THE AIR FORCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 56, 3 September 1938, Page 10

THE AIR FORCE

NEW REGULATIONS

A SEPARATE SERVICE

HIGHER RATES OF PAY

The first portion of new regulations > for the Royal New Zealand Air Force, V- now established as a separate service ■ in defence, is published in a supplel ment to the "New Zealand Gazette." i The regulations provide for the details '•> of internal administration of the Air » Force in its several branches, appoint- ■ ments, and promotions to the Regular ■ Air Force, the composition of the Terl ritorial Air Force and Reserves. "In . the main they deal with matters of i internal detail. The functions of the Air Board are . wide: to do all things necessary to : maintain the Air Force in an efficient . state; to issue such orders and instructions as may be necessary for the administration, discipline, and command of the Air Force; and to provide for the organisation, general conduct of operations,' and command of the Air Force in war. For the purpose of determining the duties, pay, and retiring age of officers, the Air Force is divided into a general duties branch, an equipment branch, and a medical branch. Commissions in the regular Air Force may be either short service (five years), permanent service, or temporary service. A permanent commission in the regular Air Force may be granted to a warrant-officer who is a specialist in engineering, signals, armament, or other technical subjects, in the rank of flying officer on the recommendation of and subject to conditions approved by the Air Board. Temporary and honorary commissions may be granted in such ranks and under such conditions as the Air Board may determine. Subject to the approval of the board, a , commission in the medical branch may be granted to a person registered under the Medical or Dental Acts in force in the Dominion. OBLIGATION TO CONTINUE TRAINING. An officer who has been selected for training as a pilot and whose training has begun, is required to give a written undertaking that he will refund to the Government the cost of his flying training, or such portions thereof as the Air Board may prescribe, should he fail to carry out the prescribed service of training. The fact that an officer's ■ resignation has been accepted by the Governor-General will not affect this undertaking. The Air Board, however, may discontinue the training of any officer under this regulation at any time. A further' clause provides that where the training of an officer under this regulation is not completed, the board may dispense with the requirements of the regulation. Compulsory retiring ages range from 57 years (Air Commodore and certain officers in. the equipment branch) to 45 years (flying personnel), but in special cases, where it is in' the interests of the service, the Governor-General may extend the age for retirement of officers by riot more than two years; the ages for retirement may be extended in time of war. . CONDITIONS OF ENTRY. Conditions of entry of airmen are detailed. The age limits for the Regular Air Force are from 15 to 25 years, and for the Air Force Reserve or Territorial Air Force 18 to 38 years, though under special circumstances the Air Board may approve of enlistment of persons over these ages. Boys between 15 and 18 years of age may enter for training as aircraft apprentices in the Regular Air Force. Recruits .of or above the age of 18 years may enlist as second-class aircraftmen, but must be able to pass a test in the trade for which they enlist. These trades, are divided into four groups, three technicial and one administrative. The technical trades include those of blacksmith and welder, coppersmith and metal-worker, electrician, fitterarmourer, instrument-maker, wireless operator-mechanic, carpenter, photographer, meteorologist, cook and butcher, fabric 'worker, trained nurse, dental motor-boat crew, and quite a few more. Unskilled and semiskilled men may also be enlisted in certain trades' , TERRITORIAL AIR. FORCE AND , RESERVES. Applicants for commissions in the Territorial Air Force must be British subjects, between 18 and 38 years at the time bf entry; in the case of candidates for commissions in the general duties branch in possession of A or B flying licences; and have passed the. university entrance' examination or have been educated up to a standard which, in the opinion of the Air Board, will ensure their ability to carry out the course of training. The period of service is five years, which may be extended for a further , five years. Members of H.M. Regular Forces, and reserves, the Territorial Army and the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve ancl of the Police Force are not eligible for enlistment. Officers and airmen of the Territorial Air Force are eligible for consideration for short service commissions in tlie Regular Air Force or in the Royal Air Force. Members of the Air Force Reserve, officers and airmen, are required to undergo such annual training, not exceeding twenty days in a year, as may be determined by the Air Board. Members of the Reserve may be considered for appointment to a commission, or enlistment, in ' the Regular Air Force or for a commission in the Royal Air Force. -'-' The reserve of Air Force officers is divided into officers for flying duties and officers for other duties, comprising those who have held commissions and civilians entered directly into the reserve. The term of service is five years; with permissible extensions of periods of five years within age limits of 38 years for flying officers and 55 years for, other duties. The age limit for airmen is 55 years. - The powers of courts-martial are set out. The maximum term of. imprisonment or detention which may be ordered by a court-martial in time of peace is three months. NEW RATES OF PAY. The new" rates of pay in the Regular Air Force include:—-Air commodore, £1250, rising to £1350 per annum; group captain, £1050-£1150; wingcommander, £850-£950; squadronleader, £685-£785; flight-lieutenarit, £535-£635; flying officer, £320-£435; pilot officer, £295. There is a lower scale for the officers of the equipment branch. The pay of airmen varies according to-the class of trade, length of service, and rank, from £100 to £225 (plus allowances, quarters, and rations and certain special allowances). Pay,for non-commissioned - officers ranges in the same way from £200 to £315. '

The steamer Cambridge, from Auckland, arrived bff the Wellington Heads early this morning, but owing to the thick weather was unable to enter the harbour. She came in this afternoon and berthed at 1.15 pan. _ ; _