AIR TRAINING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24506, 15 January 1941, Page 6

AIR TRAINING

PREUMINARY EDUCATION | NEW ZEALAND'S LEAD REVIEW BY MR FRASER CPeb United. Press Association,): WELLINGTON. Jan. 14, The Prime Minister, Mr P. Eraser, made reference to-day to the recent announcement of the establishment in Britain of a new scheme of preliminary training for the Air Force, which would enable boys to qualify for entry to the R.A.F. or the Fleet Air Arm. whether or not their educational standard was originally equal to. the educational standard required for. the Air Force The announcement from London stated that these boys would receive preliminary training in their spare time, either in school or in local units, and that special coaching would be given .in such subjects as mathematics and mechanics in order that they might be brought up,to the necessary standard. ..;'■• ■.■■■■ ■ '.■' ■ /■•• Mr Fraser stated, that almost: since the war began New'Zealand had recognised the' necessity for some form of preliminary ■Air Force training so that equal opportunity -might be given, to all. Actually. New Zealand-commenced the preliminary training scheme in 1939. as soon as it became, obvious, that the pre-war scheme of selection did not meet' war conditions, and that we were missing hundreds of the very best men because they did hot. have the necessary educational qualifications, > Syllabus of Training • A decision, was made to ■ select a man irrespective of his educational qualifications, ■Mr Fraser said, and to bring him up to the necessary standard before he went on to the ground training school at Levin. In October, 1939, the Director of Educational Services, Royal New Zealand Air Force, prepared a practical syllabus capable of bringing our men up to the necessary Air Force standard in the minimum time. This practical syllabus included mathematics and elementary science. A book as a correspondence course for men in country districts, and for those who were unable to attend the usual classes was also prepared, the first draft of which was commenced shortly after the outbreak of war. It was finished early in 1940, and had been the text book for our Air Force preliminary classes as well as for Air Force correspondence courses since January, 1940. This book had since been revised and reprinted by the thousand: The New Zealand scheme and this text book, Mr Fraser continued, were enabling New Zealand to send into the ground training school at Levin a constant stream of men with the necessary basic knowledge to enable them' to commence training for the air. crews of the Empire, and would enable New Zealand to do this as long as the war lasted. ',.".' "'"".' Adoption in Australia It was not long, Mr Fraser said, before, other parts of the Empire began to realise the advantages of this system. Details of the New Zealand scheme and text book were forwarded to Australia *in May, 1940, and made possible the. rapid introduction of a similar scheme in Australia. The book was reprinted in Australia, and enabled the commencement there of preliminary educational training for air crews about June. . , , In July last complete details of the preliminary educational training scheme were forwarded by the New Zealand Director, of Educational Services to the Director of Educational .Services of the Royal Air Force, and ' advice had been received that these papers were being carefully, studied, the Prime Minister said. It Was Quite possible that the details of the New Zealand scheme had proved helpful to the authorities at Home, as the advantages of giving to the youth of the.nation equal opportunities to-attain the necessary educational qualifications had been widely recognised and '.'appreciated.. ' „;\ ' ,: J' ■,. ,'m • \ \ . Close Co-operation. > .', Mr Fraser added that everything possible was being done in New Zealand before the men entered. the training schools to prepare them for the work which they had; to do. By the close co-operation of the educational, services of the R.N.Z A;F;,. the Pdst - and Telegraph Department, and the National Broadcasting Service, it had been possible to arrange for complete courses of instruction in, Morse signalling for all members of.air crews prior to, their entry into the ground training school. Large numbers of men were being instructed in the Morse signalling classes, and those who could not attend classes were being given similar instruction over the air. As far as he was aWare this form of preliminary instruction was being given nowhere else in the world, but he was satisfied from the results submitted. to him that it also could with advantage be copied by other parts of the Empire. The preliminary instruction in Morse signalling were instances of the manner m which the resources of New Zealand were being organised for war effort.