SERVICE ABROAD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 133, 7 June 1937, Page 9

SERVICE ABROAD.

ROYAL AIR FORCE. MORE NEW ZEALANDERS. SEVENTY-FIVE Tina YEAR (By TelegTaph.—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, Sunday. Arrangements have been completed between the Government and the Imperial authorities for further New Zealanders to be drafted for short service commissions in the Royal Air Force. This announcement was made in an interview by the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones.

"We have received advice from the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs that the Air Council is willing to accept further candidates from New Zealand for short service commissions in the Royal Air Force, and' the Cabinet has approved of groups of 12 candidates being selected at from four to sixweekly intervals," he said. These men will be selected from applicants who have already been interviewed by the selection committee in connection with the original selection of 25, and it is not anticipated that applications for further candidates will be invited until about the end of this year.

The Minister stated that the Royal Air Force authorities were very pleased with the cla/ss of men already sent from New Zealand, and had inquired from the New Zealand Government whether any more young men could be sent to England for training. As a result of the arrangement which had now been entered into, some 75 men would be sent forward from the Dominion this year, in addition to the number who would customarily be drafted into the Royal Air Force. After spending four years in the Royal Air Force, during which tune they would receive a thorough all-round training successful candidates would be able either to remain in England or to return to New Zealand. If they stayed in England they would join the Royal Air Force reserve, or receive permanent commissions, but if they returned to New Zealand their fare would be paid by the Government and they would join the Royal New Zealand Air Fore© reserve. The Minister emphasised the value of the scheme not only to the Royal Air Force, but to air defence in the Dominion.