AIR FORCE RECRUITS

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 December 1939, Page 8

AIR FORCE RECRUITS

SATISFACTORY STANDARD. [per press association.] WELLINGTON, December 7. The progress made in the establishment ot classes in mathematics and elementary physics for training recruits for the aii- crew section of the Royal Air Force was referred to by the Minister for Defence (Mr. Jones) to-day. Mr. Jones said that the Air Force Selection Committee, consisting of Group Captain T. M. Wilkes, Mr. F. Caradus, Director of Educational Services, and Flight-Lieutenant A. C. McArthur, had now completed its visits to North Island centres, and only Wellington candidates remained to be interviewed. This would bo done shortly before Christmas, after the South Island tour.

The quality of candidates offering, said the Minister, continued to be most satisfactory, and those below the required educational standard were being brought up to that standard by means of special classes. These classes had been established in Palmerston North, Wanganui. New Plymouth. Hamilton. Auckland, and Napier, and in Auckland alone more than 100 keen young students were attending four classes in that city. During the South Island visit similar arrangements were to be made to establish classes there. The Minister expressed -appreciation of co-operation given the scheme by school boards and teachers generally. Education officers were being appointed to all Air Force stations, and a number would also be engaged in handling correspondence at Air Force Headquarters. i