Women for Air Force Stations

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 124, 27 May 1941, Page 4

Women for Air Force Stations

SELECTION OF PERSONNEL PROCEEDING MORE CANDIDATES REQUIRED The selection board for the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force, consisting ot Wing-Commander A. J. Manson, M.C. (chairman), Mrs. A. G. Kain and Airs. E. Carlyon, all of Air Force Headquarters, Wellington, and Miss C. E. Warburton, chairman of the district committee of the Women’s War Service Auxiliary, who acted as the Manawatu representative on the board, are in Palmerston North this week to interview applicants for service on Royal New Zealand Air Stations. Approximately 90 candidates are to be interviewed from the whole of the Manawatu district and this must be considered a very poor response in view of the basic principle underlying the scheme, which is to replace every fit airman, thus enabling him lo proceed to some other sphere of the lighting forces. It was stated last evening that the majority of applicants interviewed during the day had been accepted for service subject to the usual medical examination. At this juncture it might be fair to state that there is no intention of replacing airmen engaged in technical duties such as fitters, mechanics, riggers, etc. These are highly skilled men and the maintenance of aircraft would undoubtedly suffer if they were allowed to be released from their duties. They have had months of training and the need of them is an ever-increasing one. In fairness to them it must be stressed that they are continually agitating to be permitted to proceed overseas. In regard to the medical examinatious, tney are already being proceeded with and the results are being forwarded to Headquarters. The names of the successful candidates will be released as soon as the examinations have been completed. Approximately 130 women are required. for the R.N.Z.A.F. Station at Levin, and from 180 to 200 may be required at a later date for R.N.Z.A.F. fetation at Ohakea, but, as the latter station is too far from a town for daily transport, the intake will depend upon whether accommodation is made available at the aerodrome or not. As tho applicants from the whole district do not in any measure suffice for Levin Air Station it is up to those who are free and anxious to make a valuable contribution to the war effort to offer their services in order that, as before stressed, they will be able to release fit men for service overseas. What is more to the point is that until there are sufficient replacements by women these men from the non-technical groups cannot be released.