AIR TRAINING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23507, 18 November 1939, Page 11

AIR TRAINING

DOMINIONS SCHEME FINANCIAL BASIS AGREEMENT REACHED r BRITAIN AND CANADA By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received November 17, 5.5 p.m.) OTTAWA, Nov. 30 Britain and Canada have agreed on the financial basis of the Empire air training scheme. It is believed that the British suggestion that Canada should bear most of the'initial cost and recoup herself from per capita charges for,the trainees has been accepted. It is understood also that, in order to avoid the heavy cost of the provision of training facilities which would be useless after the war, Canada will proceed until the spring on a more economical basis than previously contemplated, using 20 to 30 aerodromes belonging to Trans-Canada Airlines and 10 to 15 municipal flying fields, which are adaptable as military aerodromes.

The Ottawa correspondent of the New York Times understands that Britain is providing aeroplanes and other equipment needed. It is expected that at first Canada will supply more airmen than Australia, New Zealand or Britain.

SAFETY OF CHILDREN ARRANGEMENTS IN BRITAIN CONTINUING EDUCATION (Received November 17, 7.30 p.m.) British Wireless LONDON, Nov. 16 In the House of Commons to-night Mr. H. B. Lees-Smith (Labour —Yorkshire) opened a discussion on education problems in relation to evacuation. He said he welcomed the decision to reopen schools in certain vulnerable areas. Children in such areas probably would be safer in schools than in the streets or their own homes. Be added that a War Ollice inquiry showed that among a-quarter of a million militiamen now mobilised there had been only three cases of crime sufficiently serious not to be dealt with by commanding officers. This was both a test and a justification of modern British schools.

The Parliamentary secretary for education, Mr. IC. M. Lindsay, said that, although the education system had experienced unexampled dislocation, the flexible, decentralised system was recovering and many children were benefiting by the changed conditions. In the country areas they were taller and stronger and better fed. They slept longer and were found easier to teach. The average weight of some had increased by over three pounds. There were some 900,000 children in evacuation areas, 1,700,000 in neutral areas, and 2,500,000 in reception areas.

LIVING COSTS RISE FIGURES IN BRITAIN MEAT AND BUTTER DEARER (Received November 17, 7.30 p.m.) British Wireless LONDON, Nov. 10 Tlio Ministry of Labour announces that on November 1 the index figure of the general living cost was G9 per cent above the July, 1914, level, compared with 65 per cent on.September 30. This four-point rise is equivalent to about 2!j per cent. Taking food alone, the figure is the same, and this is largely due to price increases in bacon and eggs. In the latter, the rise is seasonal, and is only a fraction higher than in the similar period last year. Prices of meat and butter also show increases, although less marked. They are accounted for by higher importation costs. Some , goods, however, show a decrease, particularly fish and margarine. It is considered probable that many housewives, by changing the family diet, are obtaining equal food value without increased expenditure. Since the outbreak of the war, living costs have risen by 14 points, of which over one and a-half points aro due to the increase in the sugar tax. The Board of Trade index for wholesale prices in October was 5 per cent higher than a month before, and 11.5 per cent higher than a year ago.

WOMEN'S LAND ARMY 25,000 ENROLMENTS (Received November 17, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 1G The .Minister of Agriculture, Sir Reginald Dorman Smith, in the House of Commons said that about 25,000 women liavo enrolled in the Women's Land Army. THREAT TO SOLDIERS LONDON, Nov. 17 The Prague radio announced that members of the Czech Legion which has been formed in France will be shot if they are captured or taken prisoner of war.