NEW ZEALANDERS IN R.A.F.

Southland Times, Issue 23437, 18 February 1938, Page 6

NEW ZEALANDERS IN R.A.F.

AS MANY AS 150 TO JOIN THIS YEAR

RECRUITS HELD IN HIGH ESTEEM IN ENGLAND

(United Press Association)

DUNEDIN, February 17.

It is likely that during the coming year as many as 150 young men will go forward from New Zealand to join the Royal Air Force. This statement was made today by the Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones), who said that 80 young New Zealanders had been sent forward during the past year and were so highly thought of in England that that number would be almost doubled this year. “The Royal Air Force is anxious to have as many young men as we can send forward,” the Minister said, and the terms offering are so attractive that there should not be any difficulty in finding enough men. Their fares to England are paid by the British Government after we have selected them with a view to physical and educational requirements and on arrival in England they are, if found suitable, drafted into the Royal Air Force on short service commissions of five years. The type of men going forward from New Zealand may be judged from the fact that of the 80 who were selected to travel to England last year, only one was foimd to be unsuitable for the Royal Air Force.” It was desirable, the Minister said, that more of those senjt to the Royal Air Force should return to New Zealand than at present, as their experience and knowledge would be valuable in this country. It seemed that conditions in England were more attractive than those at present offering in New Zealand, but with the expansion of both military and civil aviation in the Dominion there would be opportunities for more airmen. The difficulty at present was the shortage of ground engineers, but it was hoped that within the next two years New Zealand would have enough of these to meet all its requirements, both civil and military. The Minister added that the committee set up to select applicants would visit Dunedin on February 28.