DEFENCE PROJECT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20016, 15 August 1939, Page 6

DEFENCE PROJECT

. MOBILISATION CAMP SITE NEAR PAPAKURA CONCENT RAT INC! T R 001 >S * Plans are stated to be well advanced lor the establishment of a mobilisa tion. camp in the Papa leu ra district, Auckland. It will accommoxlate approximately 6000. men, although provision has been made for a considerable increase in this accommodation at short notice. * The. Minister of Defence, the lion. F. Jones, said when in Auckland at the week-end that a large site was necessary where electricity,' water and sewage installations could be made. It would be necessary to erect a number of ’buildings for the including large kitchens. There also would be an administrative block. What was required was a mobilisation camp where troops could be quickly concentrated in times of emergency. The Auckland site Would complete the moblisation plan so far as camps were concerned, three having been decided upon, and two .’of them, those’, at Burnham and' Trentham, already being in existence. It was possible that the new camp would be used for training purposes ‘in peace time. T The scheme, it is stated, in Auckland, is sufficiently advanced for quantities pf materials to have been 'taken out to the site. When operations do begin, it is stated that other public works activities in the district will bfe subordinated to it. The building of .the camp is to be treated ■‘•as a matter of extreme urgency and workmen may even be drawn from the State housing project. The need for such a mobilisation Centre, has long been felt by the military authorities in ’ Auckland. No mobilisation plan which they could produce, it is stated, would be complete without the provision of such 'a centre, where men could be properly /and adequately concentrated 1 at need.