MORE BUILDINGS AT CAMPS

Southland Times, Issue 24158, 21 June 1940, Page 8

MORE BUILDINGS AT CAMPS

ACCOMMODATION FOR TERRITORIALS EXTENSIVE PROGRAMME PLANNED (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, June 20. An extensive building programme to provide accommodation for territorials is being launched by the Government. It includes extensions at the district schools at Bumham, Trentham and Narrow Neck and the provision of new buildings at Waioru, on the slopes of Mount Ruapehu. An outline of the Government’s programme was given yesterday by the Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) and the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) in interviews.

“To cope with the increased numbers of officers and non-commissioned officers to be trained extra accommodation has to be provided at the three district schools,” said Mr Jones, “and these buildings are to be put up immediately.” In addition, provision was being made for additional buildings to be erected at Waioru for the training of territorial personnel in the North Island, said the Minister of Defence. Though only key buildings were to be erected the programme was a heavy one. The Government was considering giving more intensive training to territorial officers during the winter and the troops at Waioru would be housed in tents while they were undergoing their course of training extending up to three months. BASIS OF CONTRACTS

The percentage basis on which contractors built military camps when the war broke out is likely to be dropped, the Minister of Public Works saying that the Public Works Department was obtaining quotes from builders for the work, there being no time in which to invite tenders. Mr Semple said the first effort would be concentrated on the Waioru buildings, they being of the first importance. Th_ public could take it from him that no time would be lost as he was satisfied that the contractors for all the camp buildings would play their part as they had done when the call was made to them in September. Asked if steps were to be taken to prevent carpenters earning the high wages they were reported to have rebefore, Mr Semple said: “There will be no ripe cherries for anybody on the job. This work is in the interests of the defence of the country and the Empire, and the people who are called on to do the job will fully recognize that this is no time to work for profit. It is a time to work for their lives and liberty. Knowing the contractors and men as I do, I know that they will respond to the call when it comes and forget their own petty interests.” Mr Semple said the call had been made to thousands of young New Zealanders to give up their occupations and go into the firing line and those who were left behind should make sacrifices with the same spirit. No sacrifice they could make could be as great as that of the soldier who was willing to give his life.