HUTS FOR SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2393, 24 February 1915, Page 9

HUTS FOR SOLDIERS

AT TRENTHAM CAMP TO TAKE THE PLACE OF. TENTS. In a statement to the Press yesterday the Minister of Defence (the Hon. Mr. Allen) outlined a scheme by which it is. proposed to do away with touts for housing the men in camp at Trontiham, and substitute hutments —semipermanent habitations, constructed of wood and corrugated iron. Cabinet has agreed to the erection of one hut for officers and another for men, to oontain a hundred men.- This will serve as a sample, before tenders aro called for the erection of the whole design. The samples will bo put up as quickly as possible, in order to see if any improvements can be made before the contract is let for the larger number. _ . Giving the season for this decision, Mr. Allen, said: "First of all, it is very difficult for the Dofence Department to up the supply of tents, which are beginning to wear out, and it will bo more costly ill the_ long run to replace them than it will be to provide more permanent structures. At the present moment something like £4500 worth of tents is concerned; secondly, the winter is coming on, and it is as well that we should make the. necessary provision for comfortable and safe shelter for. the troops before :+ he end the summer; , "As a matter of fact.-" he continued, "this was my original recommendation, when the Territorial scheme was under discussion in 1909. ' During the debate on the Finance Bill in that year (Hansard, .page 244) I'said:- 'The country would have to securo grounds upon which training is to be carried on sufficient in area for field manoeuvres, and on these permanent barracks should be established, where those under training in camp from 16 to 18 years of age, and also those in the first line of defence, when they come out for.training, should have provision made for them.- This would be a saving to the Dominion, rather than having the con-tinual-transport and wear and tear of tents, and it would make training more easy.' ; ... "I have always held that opinion," said the Minister. "The huts we propose .to erect- will be such as we can take down and move, when we so think fit, to other places. For instance, we may put them up near the forts instead of using tents for the accommodation of the men engaged there. I believe it, would pay us to put the huts near the forts, because tents are too costly. •

"When the scheme was originallv suggested 1 set up a board to consider, the question of sanitation, ventilation, and construction; it consisted of Dr. Frengley, of tlie Health Department; Major Morton (City Engineer), as the sanitation authority; , and the Government Architect (Mr. J. Campbell). The board sent in its report, on which I_ am now acting. It modified the original proposals to some extent, and Cabinet has agreed to go on with the scheme. The cost of the scheme will be between £14,000 and £15,000, if we carry it out in its entirety; part of it will be charged to the war expenses account and part to the Defence vote. The huts will be erected as quickly as possible, in order thai we .may bo able to discover from actual .experience whether something better can be produced. I want the best I oan get for the money."

Men's Sample Hutment. Tlie sample hutment for. the men, which it has been decided to erect right away, will be about 138 feet in length by about 22 feet wide, and will be divided in the centre by a wooden partition running across the full width, thus forming--two separate .compartments, "capable of accommodating 50 men each, or 100 men altogether. The building will have a gable roof running along its entire length, the total height of the eaves from the being about 7ft. 6in.. and of 'the ridge about 13ft. 6in. The building will be well lighted, having some nine windows running along each side, the whole of them being kept well up to the eaves. Each window will have a. "superficial lighting space of about 14 feet.' Special provision has beeii made for ventilation, through currents of air being ensuied by leaving openings of 6 inches .between the top of each window and the wall-plate. In addition, louvred ventilation will be provided in the gable. Galvanised iron will be used in the construction of the walls and roof, and under the latter felting will be placed to prevent condensation, etc. Tlie floors will be of timber, and the whole will be erected on studs well clear of the ground, so as to leave a good air space beneath. The internal arrangements will be reasonably comfortable. Each man will sleep upon his mattress on the floor, with a space of about eight inches between, and tlie mattresses will be rolled up during the day time. A continuous shelf will be erected along each side of the building to takei accoutrements. Arm racks will be provided. Running down the centre of each compartment four tables, each 12 feet long, and with forms for seats, will be erected for dining purposes.

The Officers' Quarters. The other sample hutment will he built to accommodate 10 officers. Measuring some 38 feet in length, by .18 feet in \yidth, it will be constructed on the same liues as -that- for the men. Each officer, however, will have a cubicle partitioned off for himself, making a small room about 7 feet by 6 feet, and ablution accommodation will be provided in the building at one end, water being laid on from the main supply. The discharge will be connected :with the main drainage system. One of the existing cookhouses will bo taken down and re-erected in: a new position, with butcher's shop attached. It will be able to cook for 1000 men. Three other cookhouses of similar design aro provided for.