AIR TRAINING CORPS

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 139, 9 March 1942, Page 6

AIR TRAINING CORPS

Governor-General Advises Thoroughness

SQUADRONS ADDRESSED

The cultivation of absolute thoroughness in their work was urged on the three Wellington towu squadrons ot the Air Training Corps by the Gover-nor-General, Sir Cyril Newall, when he addressed them after an inspection on Saturday. Sir Cyril told the youths that their pedecessors in the Hying services of the British Empire had set a high standard in the air and in maintenance; no air service in the world had a higher standard. There was no better standard than the highest, which should be the aim of the corps. Absolute thoroughness iu their duties, whether in the future they were in the air. or on maintenance, was essential. Many lives might depend on it. The corps had been intraining only a short period, but he could see evidence of the endeavours of the members to learn quickly aud well. He asked them to remember the importance of fitness, which was oue of the first considerations in the present war. They were now at an age to learn to stand aud walk properly; if they learnt now they would be able to do these things all their lives without trying. They must not think it all nonsense to learn to kee,p fit, to walk and stand correctly. They had ahead of them a career in the R.N.Z.A.F., or some service connected with flying which would play au important part after the war just as it was now playing a predominant role, concluded his Excellency. Good Showing On Parade. A vice-regal inspection, from the viewpoint of tlie endeavour that is always made to put on a good show, is a hard test even for long-trained older members of the, services, but these squadrons of the Air Training Corps paraded sufficiently well to make allowances for their youth, short length of service and part-time training almost unnecessary. They were up to the standard of the average recruits who have had a short course of fulltime training in parade ground drill. The R.N.Z.A.F. band, under Flight Lieutenant Gladstone Hill, did its usual efficient job. His Excellency, accompanied by Captain G. H. Belmore, was met on the parade ground by Wing Commander G. L. Stedman. Group Commander S. Wallingford, Air Force Member for Personnel, Wing Commander G. A. Nicholls, commandant, Air Training Corps, Flight Lieutenant C. C. Johnston, staff officer, Air Training Corps, and Flight Lieutenant D. C. Inglis, D.C.M., Wellington area adjutant, Air Training Corps. The officer commanding the parade was Flying Officer W. W. Duff. There was a inarch. past iu column of route aud the advance in review order, the latter a particularly difficult parade movement, but the youths acquitted themselves well. After the address, the cadets marched to their lecture room for lectures where there was an inspection of training by his Excellency.