D—3

More than £50,000,000 worth of defence work was carried out during the course of the war. The following two tables show how this cost was spread through time and how it was distributed amongst the various Services, &c.:—

Apart altogether from, aerodrome construction — 17,104 acres of land were used for military camp construction. 292 miles of roading were metalled and sealed. 1,023 acres of ground were levelled. 604 acres of ground in the precincts of camps were metalled and sealed. 145 miles of sub-surface and storm-water drains were laid. 302 miles of water-piping were laid. 167 miles of sewerage-pipes were laid. 160 miles of fencing were erected. Military hospitals, with an aggregate capacity of 9,400 beds, were erected, their total floor area being 1,863,285 square feet. In addition, convalescent depots and camp hospitals for 1,100 patients were constructed, apart from alterations and extensions to existing public hospitals. The greater part of this work was done for the United States Forces. More than 20,000,000 square feet of defence buildings were erected, as follows: — On aerodromes .. 4,764 buildings, covering 5,393,008 square feet. Others .. .. 28,296 buildings, covering 15,376,282 square feet. 1.e., in all , „ 33,060 buildings, covering 20,769,290 square feet.

10

Period. Public Works Department. Housing Construction Department. Total. September, 193.9, to March, 1940 April, 1940, „ 1941 1941, „ 1942 1942, „ 1943 1943, „ 1944 1944, „ 1945 1945, „ 1946 Total £ 3,568,215 3,384,158 5,340,505 16,507,422 11,485,447 4,760,761 2,577,969 £ 700,444 1,737,972 290,847 123,118 £ 3,568,215 3,384,158 5,340,505 17,207,866 13,223,419 5,051,608 2,701,087 47,624,477 2,852,381 50,476,858 .Armed Service, &c. Public Works Department. Housing Construction Department. Total. Army Navy .. Air Force U.S. Forces * Civil Defence, &c. Total £ 15,569,932 3,570,464 15,218,907 6,163,230 7,101,944 £ 742,462 479,720 1,101,019 529,180 £ 16,312,394 3,570,464 15,698,627 7,264,249 7,631,124 47,624,477 2,852,381 50,476,858 * Includes air-raid protection works, munition-factories, rt r c.