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(i) B.N.Z.A.F Base, Auckland. Levelling operations are nearing completion. The new hangar, single men's barracks, and ten married airmen's quarters, mentioned in last year's report, have been completed. An electric standby plant will be available shortly. Additional married quarters for officers and other ranks, accommodation for single officers, magazines, a small hospital, garages for married quarters, and increased store accommodation, are the main items required to complete the present plan for this station. The facilities which have already been provided are as follows: — Two landplane hangars. Meteorological hut. Landing-area. Garage. Offices. Five officers' married quarters. Barracks for single airmen. Seventeen other ranks' married Store building. quarters. Seaplane establishment comprising:— Seaplane-hangar. Wharf and mooring jetty. Engine-repair shop. Concrete slipway. Aircraft-repair shop. Water tower and supply. Marine store. Electric-power and light. Dope shop. Additional land is urgently necessary for extension of the landing-area, in view of the almost certain increase in size and weight of machines; sites for married quarters and other buildings; and to facilitate the general working and administration of the Base. The matter is under action. (ii) Wigram Aerodrome. The generous gift by the late Sir Henry Wigram of an additional area of land has ensured that the landing-ground at this aerodrome is ample for all requirements, both now and in the future. The development of the Royal N.Z. Air Force Base, Auckland, being well advanced, a considerable construction programme has been commenced at Wigram Aerodrome. The two large new hangars, mentioned in last year's report, and a house for the Officer Commanding, are practically completed. The workshop block and large barracks for single airmen are under construction, while plans have been completed for the administration building. Extensive levelling operations have been in progress and will shortly be completed. This year's programme includes the construction of quarters for single officers, fire station and appliances, transport shed, and photographic building, and the provision of communications, water-supply, drainage, and miscellaneous items. Appendix 111 attached hereto gives details of civil aviation, as far as these affect the activities of the Defence Department. 5. TRAINING. (a) Training: Regular Forces. With the arrival this year in the Dominion of the anti-aircraft equipment ordered in 1934 it was possible! to commence the training of the Regular Forces allotted to its use and maintenance. Elementary courses of two weeks' duration have been held in height-finding and predictor work. The theory of these complicated instruments and their construction was touched on, but the main direction of these courses was towards familiarizing personnel with these somewhat novel equipments and the drill of their use. Practice in following aircraft targets was, with the co-operation of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, carried out daily during the courses. While the standard of training reached is highly encouraging, all ranks were impressed with the necessity for continual practice and the high degree of concentration required by the detachments concerned. Apart from the ordinary routine duties carried out at stations, it has not been possible to afford the Regular Forces any combined instruction, other than during the annual course of fourteen days' duration held in each Command. Opportunity was taken at these courses for officers to carry out exercises in tactics and staff' duties, both 011 the map and on the ground, with a view to introducing them to the many new problems which arise in handling armoured and mechanized forces. The work carried out by the warrant and non-commissioned officers was designed to assist them in the preparation for the annual training of units, the object being to ensure uniformity of system of instruction, together with the adoption of methods which would arouse and maintain the maximum degree of interest in those under instruction. Training at General Headquarters Training Depot for army recruits for the New Zealand Regular Forces has been continuous throughout the year. The strength of the depot, in recruits, has varied from 75 to 30, at which figure it now stands. Drafts of recruits who had finished their year's recruit training were posted to stations in September, 1935, and February, 1936, and a new draft entered the Depot in September, 1935.

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