BIG CHANGES AT TRENTHAM

New Zealand Listener, Volume 2, Issue 34, 16 February 1940, Page 4

BIG CHANGES AT TRENTHAM

SCHEME for the beautifying of Trentham Military Camp is in A hand, and the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, hopes to obtain the co-operation of the Wellington Beautifying Society and other horticultural societies in carrying in out. This is only one of the indications of the improvements at. Trentham, where big changes are being planned. By the end-of March all tents will have disappeared from the camp, and the men will be housed in match-lined huts. The foundations for 16 new hutments are being put down at present and these will be followed by others, until the whole of the present tented area has disappeared. Another big change is the grouping of all headquarters units in one area near the present entrance to the camp. Three new mess rooms, one each for officers, n.c.o’s and other ranks, will be built on a vacant triangular space between the camp railway line and the main road. Near these mess-rooms will be the administrative block, housing the offices of the camp commandant, quartermaster, adjutant and other executives, Renovations to this building, formerly the old camp headquarters, are almost complete. Nearby is the hospital, which is already in use. The records office and pay office will be close by. When the administrative group moves over to its new quarters, their present hutments will be given over to the accommodation of other units. Another visible change at Trentham, and~one which will add vastly to the appearance of the camp, is the painting of the huts and buildings. Two shades of green are being used for the outside, one for the roof, the other for the walls. Inside everything will be a warm cream, The old huts are to be painted and the whole camp will take on a uniform appearance.

When the present contemplated improvements have been completed, Mr. Jones states that Trentham should be as good as anything in New Zealand. The old huts, which have done duty for over 25 years, will look like new with a coating of paint. The interiors are to be lined (some have already been finished) and will be painted cream. Electric water heaters will be installed in the living quarters of the permanent administrative block and other minor improvements, such as_ built-in wardrobes will add to the comfort of the permanent staff. It is hoped to have everything in order before the winter. Colonel McHugh hopes to begin soon the beautifying of Trentham. Ornamental shrubs and flower beds will adorn the main road between the camp and the racecourse, and he hopes that the Racing Club and the City Council will be as generous here as they were in Auckland for the beautifying of Papakura Camp. In the north large quantities of palms, flowering and ornamental shrubs and seedlings of all kinds were willingly contributed, with the result that Papakura should be as picturesque as it is. efficient. Great progress has been made with the shopping and recreational area at Trentham. The concrete foundations have been laid» for the wet canteen, which will also house facilities for the supply of tea and coffee, hot pies, and milk shakes. Close beside it is the new shopping bleck which takes the form of a covered arcade, with the dry canteen on one side and various shops such as jeweller, laundry, watch-maker, and others’ on the opposite side. In the same area are the headquarters of the various religious denominations, most of which have’ built or are building per-

manent quarters. The Y.M.C.A. is adding another wing to its building. This will contain 12 billiard tables, including four new ones. The Church Army Hut and the Salvation Army Hut will also contain spacious accommodation for the entertainment and comfort of the soldiers during their leisure hours. : Meanwhile the first lawn-mowers are making music on the green patches of lawn opposite the present camp head--quarters, and a big new flag-pole is being made for erection in front of the new headquarters block. Not a horse is seen in the camp, but a large fleet of mechanical transport is aligned on the car park, at the south end of the camp. All roads and spaces between the tents and buildings in the new area have been tar-sealed and the camp has extended fully to its southern limits, Dust is an unknown factor. Papakura Camp is also being enlarged, and ultimately the whole of the artillery units from Ngaruawahia will be moved there. A third block of huts and administrative buildings is in course of construction, and it is expected that these will be finished before the winter sets ip j