AIR TRAINING CORPS

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23754, 28 September 1942, Page 6

AIR TRAINING CORPS

V ♦ AN IMPRESSIVE PARADE Headed by the band of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, about 800 members of the‘Christchurch wing of the Air Training Corps marched through the city on Saturday morning. Under the command of Flight Lieutenant R. Stcdman, they paraded at Cranmer square, where they were inspected by Group Captain G. S.Hodson; who was accompanied by Wing Commander G. A. Nicholls, Dominion Commandant of the corps. Big crowds watched the parade, and the soldierly bearing of the trainees earned appreciative comment. During the parade aircraft flew overhead. Air Force Band The band of the. New Zealand Air Force was welcomed to Christchurch by the Mayor (Mr E. H. Andrews), who said the thanks of Christchurph were due to the band for the visit, which was to assist In the campaign for patriotic funds. Wing Commander Nicholls said that besides the drive for funds for patriotic purposes the band had another object—to assist in a drive for recruits for the Air Training Corps. He said that flying was a job for young men, and many were wanted at once. Flight Lieutenant H. Gladstone Hill, director of music of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, said that the band had already assisted in raising £IOO,OOO for patriotic purposes, and he knew that Christchurch would add to this total. On Saturday afternoon the band, numbering 60 players, paraded at Lancaster Park, played selections before the game and during the half-time interval. Yesterday afternoon it played in the Botanic Gardens, and last evening presented a programme .to a packed audience at the Civic Theatre.