N.Z. AIR FORCE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 134, 18 March 1940, Page 8

N.Z. AIR FORCE.

SOUTH ISLAND CANDIDATES.

selection COAIAIITTEE SATISFIED.

(Per Press Association). CHRISTCHURCH, March 15. Eight hundred South Islanders who have applied for selection as pilots, observers’ and gunners in the Royal New Zealand Air Force were interviewed by tho selection committee which recently mad© a tour. Commenting on the selection, the Hon. F. Jones said to-day that the- type of men applying for entry continued to be high and the selection committee was very well satisfied with those seen. A probable- extension of the educational classes in mathematics was mentioned by the Minister. He was so well satisfied with tho success of the present arrangements that he had felt for some time the advisabilitv of drafting to preliminary classes in mathematics and science, all men who were to enter the ground training school at Levin, as pilots, observers or gunners. In that way earlier mathematical work would be consolidated and extended; gaps in knowledge would ho filled up and organisation at the ground training school would be simplified. This extension was under consideration and an early decision would he made. He had found, said Air Jones, that many men were spending large sums of money to obtain private coaching and instruction in air • force subjects so that they might reach pilot standard. ‘‘l wish to emphasise that this is unnecessary and that the air force classes or correspondence school will provide all the instruction, necessary at no cost to the man himself if he has been selected for the air force and found to be physically fit.” Air E. Caradus, Director of Educational Services, had inspected tho work being done in the various air force classes in the South Island and hac] reported his very favourable impression not only of the type of men hut of. their keenness and enthusiasm, which was only equalled by that of their instructors, wlio were devoting themselves unsparingly to the work of fitting men for the tasks which they would shortly have to do. The regularity of the attendance was remarkable, approximating 100 per cent.