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These buildings included over 5,700,000 square feet of storage space with rail access adaptable for post-war use. In addition, 28,885 prefabricated huts and warehouses, totalling 3,506,240 square feet, were manufactured in New Zealand for use both here and overseas. The timber utilized on the construction of all these buildings amounted to 382,147,000 superficial feet, which would have been more than sufficient for the building of 37,000 houses. Included in the naval work carried out- was the driving of 500,000 lineal feet of piles, while the construction of one wharf alone absorbed 600,000 superficial feet of heavy timbers. Aerodrome work, which had commenced before the war, was accelerated both as the war approached and during the war itself, when many civil aerodromes passed temporarily into Air Force hands. By the 31st March, 1945, the following stations had been constructed and were in use in New Zealand:— 5 permanent Air Force Stations. 5 temporary Air Force Stations. 8 R.N.Z.A.F. training fields. 14 civil aerodromes temporarily used by the Air Force. 47 civil aerodromes used for Air Force communications. 15 emergency aerodromes. 1.e., 94 in New Zealand, in addition to which—--6 aerodromes or air strips had been constructed in the Pacific. 1.e., 100 in all. Of these, three civil aerodromes, ten extensions to civil aerodromes, and thirteen temporary aerodromes and training fields were constructed during the war. Sixty-five hangars, covering 1,643,632 square feet, were erected. Other work done included: — 9,345 acres of ground levelled, drained, top-soiled, and grassed. 10,775,000 cubic yards of material excavated. 23 acres concrete " aprons " laid down. 254 miles of field tile drains laid. 106 miles of open drains constructed. 75 miles of water pipes laid. 40 miles of sewerage drains laid. It has been estimated that the provision of the whole of the accommodation which was constructed for New Zealand and Allied Forces during the war has involved in all a programme equivalent to the building of seventeen new towns, complete with all services, each with a population of sOme 10,000. This impressive fact, combined with a realization that, apart altogether from the provision of this accommodation, there was a great volume of work done on tank-traps, gun-emplacements, and other defensive works will serve to give some indication of the great magnitude of the task which was carried out during the war by New Zealand's building and constructional industries. The nation is indebted in this respect to the unstinted efforts of many loyal interests. It would perhaps be invidious to mention any of these individually, but it would not be out of place to state that the greatest burden fell upon the officers of the Public Works Department, who had the responsibility of organizing and supervising the carrying-out, often under difficult

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