DOMINION AIR RESERVE.

Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 95, 22 April 1924, Page 9

DOMINION AIR RESERVE.

NEW ZEALAND FIRST TO ACT. COMMENT IN LONDON. ("From Our Own Corresporrlenl.) LONDON, February 27. Commenting on a cable from Wellington on the granting of short service cemmissions in the Royal Air Force to Dominions' candidates and the New Zealand Government's favourable attitude towards the Imperial Government's project, the "limes " aeronautical correspondent says: — "The projected offer to the Dominions of short. service commissions in thRoyal Air Force really arose out of the recent Imperial, Conference, and New Zealand i» the first Dominion to make any public statement on the scheme. A similar offer has been sent to Australia, Canada* and South Africa, each of whom has a small air force of its own. It gives an opportunity for the Dominions to keep abreast of aeronautical progress and to ensure a nucleus in their own aur forces to officers who have had extensive training in the various specialist departments of the Royal Air Force. "It is practically impossible for any Dominion to establish at the moment, except at disproportionate expense, training centres such as exist in Great Britain for the development of the many phases of aerial attack and defence. Therefore, it is not considered likely that the financial ■""W™*" of the scheme will place any difficulty in the way of its acceptance by the Dominions. It is obviously desiraMe to build up efficient air units throughout the Empire, and the movement <te s «"» support: It should lead >o a closer liason in air matters between the •Mother Country and These proposals do not effect th> power vested now in the of Dominions to nominate a certain number of candidates for theßoya Air Force Training. College at Cranwell. .