HE WAS KEEN!

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 81, 5 April 1940, Page 5

HE WAS KEEN!

AIR FORCE RECRUIT. WESTLAND TO AUCKLAND. **nTG TRIP TO INTERVIEW. How a recruit for the air crew section of the Royal New Zealand Air Force travelled from South Westland to Auckland to be Interviewed laet week by the eelection committee of the Air Force, was described to-day by Mr. E. Caradus; director of educational services for the force, and a member of the selection committee now in the city. Tlhie man had been employed in Auckland, and had sent in his papers to Air Headquarters in Wellington from here," said Mr. Caradus. "Unfortunately a short time ago he was transferred suddenly. He couldn't have gone much further away—he went to a town in South Westland." Notice of the time for interview was cent to Auckland, and it finally reached him on the Thursday before Easter. Apparently he thought that if the Easter vacation intervened, with the Air Department closed for a few days, he might lose his chance. "With no guarantee of any return of the considerable amount of money he was spending, he took the 'plane to Hokitika and travelled the hundreds of miles to Auckland to be in time for his interview," said Mr. Caradus. "He was interviewed on Thursday of last week and medically examined later." As it happened, continued the director, he was not quite up to the educational standard, and he would foe required to undergo a correspondence course. "His first assignment of the course should be waiting for him by the time he gets back to South Westland, and, judging by the keenness he has ehown already, he will waste no time in getting down to it solidly. , '

Mr. Caradus added that a considerable portion of the money spent by this remarkably keen young man would be met by the Air Department, as all men who come from outlying districts to a centre for interview receive a reasonable allowance for travelling expenses and [cost of .board.