The Press SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1940. Territorial Air Force

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25739, 26 February 1949, Page 6

The Press SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1940. Territorial Air Force

, The reluctance of men to volunteer j for ground trades in .the Territorial • Air Force, which the Director of : Reserves (Group Captain T. W. I White) referred to in a speech at j Auckland this week, is not altogether surprising. Although the | lack of recruits has been known for i some time, the Government has shown no particular energy or imagination in seeking them. Apparently it was expected that men who had served in the last war would volunteer freely for the Territorial Air Force. But many of those who might have done so two years ago have become less and less enthusiastic as the Government has delayed longer and longer the decision I that is crucial in its defence policy. lln war time there was a feeling among men of the ground staff that their role in the Air Force was insufficiently appreciated by the public and recognised in the service. If, as may be, this feeling still exists, it will help to explain why the prospect of service in the Territorial Air Force has not been eagerly welcomed. The establishment of the territorial arm also, for certain reasons, does not greatly stir the professional interest of experienced men. Units are small, there are few aircraft, and these are fast becoming outdated. As the Territorial Air Force will have to make do with these aircraft and its present establishment for some time, volunteers cannot be gained immediately by the promise of more modern aircraft to work on in the future. But there are some aspects of service which , could be emphasised if a vigorous recruiting campaign, which is obviously needed, is undertaken. It is necessary, first of all, to make it plain that the men who keep the aircraft in the air are just as valuable to the Territorial Air Force as the men who fly them. Volunteers are not likely to look first for the financial advantages of service: but more could be done to impress upon prospectiverecruits that they will be compensated to some extent for their sacrifice of leisure time. Though the pay for the Territorial Air Force is not generous, it is considered adequate for the amount of service volunteers are called upon to perform; and it is reinforced by economic and disability pensions on the same scale as those for the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Group Captain White has appealed to members of the Air Force Association to volunteer for the Territorial Air Force. It is possible that an appeal to aero clubs might direct the interest of some of the many non-flying members into service channels.