AIR DEFENCES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 68, 17 February 1939, Page 2

AIR DEFENCES

CIVIL RESERVE PERSONNEL. SATISFACTORY QUALIFICATIONS. L’er Press Association. WiirLulisti I UiN, l'eb. 16. ”As tile result ol all analysis ol the applications received lor enrolment in Lie civil reserve of the Royal i\ew Zealand Air I'orce it is gratifying to learn that the general calibre and liualilications ol tliose who have applied lor inclusion in the register tuny justify Cabinet's decision, towards the end of last year, to form a civil section of the Air Force Reserve,’' said Lion. F. .Jones (Minister of Defence), in a statement to-day. “’f lic present scheme involves the compilation for use in a national emergency of a register containing the names of, those citizens whose qualifications fit tnein for service in tlie ground organisation essential to the effectiveness of the Air Force.

"Training of members of the reserve in peace tune is not contemplated, although certain groups may at a later stage be afforded an opportunity of receiving instruction so that their members may be able, if called upon, to adapt their civil professions or trades to Air Force requirements at short notice. Actual flying experience or tuition does not come within the scope of this scheme. “In order that the Air Department may he able to assess the ability of individual members and thus decide the positions which they might be capable of filling, two qualified men have been appointed, one for each island, to interview members of the reserve in the engineering sections. One of the objects of the scheme is to ensure that, if men have to be called up in an emergency, it can be done with a minimum of interference to industry.

"For this reason it is proposed, subject to the convenience of employers, that interview's be held at the place of employment. This will enable the department to assess the possible consequences of a man’s withdrawal on the works concerned, and thus ensure that in an emergency an undue number are not taken from one shop or industry. The co-operation of employers will greatly i?.cilitate this phase of the scheme.

“In the meantime, it is not proposed ■to interview applicants for professional, administrative, and clerical appointments. Further enrolments arc still desired from among men in the engineering profession and in the allied trades of fitters, welders, motor mechanics, sheet metal workers, electricians and the like. When it is realised that for every one man in the air at least eight are required on the ground, the need for an adequate number of ground engineers and staff being available will be appreciated. “Aero clubs throughout New Zealand are carrying out valuable training work with the assistance and cooperation of the Government, and the numbers of men with flying experience are increasing rapidly,” added Mr Jones. NEW AERODROMES. SATISFACTORY PROGRESS. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND. Feb. 16. An emphatic assertion that the Government was alive to its responsibilities regarding the defence of the Dominion, and an expression of confidence that by the mechanised methods of preparing aerodromes th'e Government was making the greatest haste in strengthening the most essential aids to New Zealand’s defence, was made by Hon. R. Semple (Minister of Public Works) during an inspection of' the construction of the new military aerodrome at Whenuapai. The Minister expressed gratification at the rapidity with which the construction of the aerodrome was progressing. “I want to congratulate the contractor and men on the remarkable results they have shown on this very important work in so short a lime,” said Mr Semple. “They have made wonderful progress. Those who have been criticising are talking through their hats. If I had not introduced these methods of construction, we would not have done this work in the next 20 years with wheelbarrows, horses and carts. There is no system greater in the world than this for this type of job. and 1 challenge anyone to deny it.” A declaration in favour of .national registration with a view to national mobilisation in time of emergency was made by the council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce during a discussion following the receipt of an invitation from the New Zealand Defence League to appoint a representative on it from the chamber. Members expressed themselves as strongly in favour of compulsory military preparation for all classes.