NATIONAL CAMPS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 November 1939, Page 6

NATIONAL CAMPS

PROVISION IN GREAT BRITAIN. ACCOMMODATION FOR EVACUATED 'CHILDREN. The Government is having constructed. 50 national camps for school holidays and evacuated children. It is expected that by the beginning of the year they will be well advanced. Half that number are already in various stages of progress. The Ministry of Health and the Board of Education will decide upon the use which is to be made of the centres.

A visit paid to one of the first to be completed, high in the Chiltern Hills, is described b.y a special correspondent of the Times. In the beautiful woodland site the dozen buildings which make up the camp stand in 20 acres of ground, with access to woods on three sides. Although five miles from a market town it has been connected with main electricity and water services, so that the camp could be used in winter as well as in summer.

The huts of cedar wood are grouped on two sides of a green square, crossed by a hedge and trees. Running north and south on one side of the site are six dormitory huts, each taking 58 children and two teachers or supervisors. They will sleep in double tiers of bunks, arranged down the sides of the lofty, airy dormitories. Within easy reach arc lavatory huts, each fitted with 12 showerbaths, as well as lavatory basins. For night time sanitary accommmodation has been added to each dormitoryhut.

The assembly hall and the dining hall (with kitchen in an attached wing) are close by. Alongside the outside wall runs a verandah where leisure time can be spent and lessons given. All cooking will be done by electricity, although steam also will be available.

All the huts are raised 18in off the ground on concrete blocks. They are centrally heated by radiators and lit by electricity. There are quarters for the camp manager and for the head teachers of the visiting schools. Another block provides accommodation for the permanent camp staff. From the camp entrance in a small country road to the boiler-house a metalled road is being built so that supplies may be brought to the door by vans. Flower beds will be laid between the dormitory blocks and the children will probably be encouraged to spend much time in flower and vegetable gardening. The original estimate of cost was £22,000 for each camp.