YOUNG MEN FOR AIR FORCE

Southland Times, Issue 24161, 25 June 1940, Page 4

YOUNG MEN FOR AIR FORCE

Candidates Examined

By Committee

FIRST CLASS COMPLETES LOCAL STUDIES

The touring selection committee for the air-crews section of the Royal New Zealand Air Force examined about 50 candidates at Invercargill yesterday and made arrangements for the majority of them to be admitted to the special classes conducted at the Southland Boys’ High School preparatory to their admission to one of tjie training schools.

Mr E. Caradus, Director of Educational Services, stated last night that arrangements had been made to include signalling in the course of local classes. ’ This would be an advantage as it would reduce the time necessary for this subject in the training schools. The instruction would be given by officers of the Post and Telegraph Department. The trainees will be divided into two groups and will receive instruction on three evenings a week, one of which will be devoted to signalling. One group will be for pilots and observers and the other for gunners. The first class of about 20 trainees will finish the local course this week and the majority will be admitted to the instruction schools as soon as vacancies occur. Those who fail to qualify will be given extended instruction at the local classes. Mr Caradus said that the young men examined yesterday included some who had not completed their primary school course. It was essential, he said, that they should have received a full primary school course and, if possible, some secondary or technical education.