APPLICANTS FOR AIR FORCE

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 147, 16 March 1940, Page 10

APPLICANTS FOR AIR FORCE

Fine Type Of Men, Says Minister POSSIBLE EXTENSION OF EDUCATION CLASSES (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, March 15. Eight hundred South Island men, who have applied for selection as airman pilots, air observers, and air gunners in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, were interviewed by the selection committee, which recently made a tour. Commenting on the selection, the Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones, said today that the type of men applying for entry to the air crew section of the Air Force continued to be high, and the selection committee was well satisfied with those seen. A probable extension of educational classes in mathematics was mentioned by tile Minister. He was so well satisfied with the success of the present arrangements, that be had felt for some "time the advisability of drafting to preliminary classes in mathematics and science all men who were to enter/ the ground training school at Levin as airman pilots, air observers or air gunners. In that way earlier mathematical work would be consolidated and extended, gaps in knowledge would be filled up and organization at the ground training school would be simplified. This extension was under consideration, and an early decision would be made. He had found, said Mr. Jones, that many men were spending large sums of money to obtain private coaching and instruction in Air Force subjects, so that they might reach pilot standard. They were toeing invited to do so by correspondence. “I wish to emphasize that this is quite unnecessary, and that the Air Force classes or correspondence school will provide all instruction necessary at no cost to the man himself if he has been selected for the Air Force and found to be physically fit,” said Mr. Jones.

The selection committee, consisting of Flight Lieutenant A. C. McArthur (chairman), Messrs. E. Carradus (senior inspector of schools and director of educational services, R.N.Z.A.F.), aud C. C. N. Johnston (of the personnel branch of the Air Department), had now completed its second round of visits to South Island towns. Visits were paid to Blenheim, Nelson, Dunedin, Invercargill and Christchurch. Men from other centres were being notified to attend at one or other of these towns. Interviews at Napier and Gisborne would be carried out just before Easter, and those at Auckland and Wellington in the month after Easter. Mr. Caradus had inspected the work being done in the Air Force classes in the South Island, and had reported his very favourable impression, not only of the type of men, but of their keenness and enthusiasm, only equalled by that of their instructors, who were devoting themselves unsparingly to the work of fitting the men for tasks which they would shortly have to do. The regularity of attendance was remarkable, approximating 100 per cent.