AIR TRAINING CORPS

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24959, 21 August 1946, Page 6

AIR TRAINING CORPS

PROVISION FOR SUMMER CAMPS (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, August 20. Provision of £2OOO for Air Training Corps summer camps, and £750 for miscellaneous Air Training Corps expenditure is made in the Air Department estimates. Training equipment surplus to the requirements of the Royal New Zealand Air Force is being earmarked for present and future use of the Air Training Corps, the present strength of which is 6000, compared with a peak of about 10,000 in 1944.

When the Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) was asked to-day about the future of the Air Training Corps he said that until the post-war strength of the Royal New Zealand Air Force was determined it was not possible for him to say to what extent the organisation of the corps might have to be modified. He expected, however, that the corps would be a pool from which the regular Air Force would draw partlytrained youths. Since the war ended the Air Training Corps had provided more than 700 recruits in ground trades for the interim air force. Cadets were still being recruited into the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Mr Jones said training facilities would be kept as up-to-date as possible. Difficulties were being encountered in some districts because the owners of properties taken over to provide training headquarters were seeking the return of their premises. However, it was hoped to provide suitable alternative accommodation. “ He added that approximately 1500 cadets attended summer camps this year. In addition numerous week-end camps were held throughout the year on air force stations.