NEW BARRACKS AT WHENUAPAI

Southland Times, Issue 23766, 14 March 1939, Page 6

NEW BARRACKS AT WHENUAPAI

Creation Of Station For Air Force 7 £lOO,OOO LIKELY TO BE SPENT (United Press Association) AUCKLAND, March 13. The entering into by the Government of a contract to construct airmen’s barracks and a decision to consider tenders for the erection of officers’ messrooms and quarters is the latest development in the creation of an operational station for the Royal New Zealand Air Force at Whenuapai, near Hobsonville. The amounts involved in the construction of these barracks and quarters are likely to total more than £lOO,OOO and give a further illustration of the ambitious nature of the defence programme at Whenuapai, the pace of which has been accelerated. The successful tenderer' for the men’s barracks at Whenuapai is Mr W. H. Whittaker, of Sandringham, and while the price is not disclosed, it is thought to be about £BO,OOO. The airmen’s barracks will make provision for the accommodation and recreation of a permanent force of more than 100 men, with special quarters for sergeants, corporals and other ranks. Whereas the barracks will be two story, the officers’ mess and quarters, for which tenders are to be invited, will be single story only. Like the barracks, the officers’ section will comprise a central block, with flanking wings connected by corridors, containing 28 bedrooms. This building will probably cost from £25,000 to £30,000.