THE AIR FORCE

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20427, 18 February 1938, Page 2

THE AIR FORCE

TRAINEES FOR ENGLAND ATTRACTIVE TERMS (By Telegraph.—press Association) DUNEDIN, Thursday It Is likely th«t during the coming year as many as 150 young men will go forward from New Zealand to join the Royal Air Force, according to a statement made to-day by the Minlswho 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 ' The Royal Air Force Is anxious to have a- many young men as we can sfnd forward.” the Minister said, ** and the f*rms offering are so attractive that there should not be any difficulty in finding enough men. Their fares to Lngland are paid by the British Government, after we have selected them with a view to physicf.l 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 80 who were selected to travel to England last year only one was found to he unsuitable for the Roval Air Force.” Return Desired It was desirable, the Minister said, that more of those sent to the Royal Air Force should return to New Zealand than was the rase at present, as their experl enc**' ;ind knowledge would hr valuable in this country. It «eemed that conditions In En-land 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 main difficulty at present was the shortage of ground engineers, hut 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 a committee set up to select applicants would visit Dunedin on February 2*.