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in number, so that the output of the clubs is of great importance in that it is largely from the club-trained pool that airline pilots of the future will be recruited. Furthermore, the value of this air potential in time of war cannot be overestimated. The following list shows the number of ab initio trainees who passed through the aero clubs or companies indicated and who were issued with " A " Licences during the twelve months ended 31st March, 1948 : Auckland ~ .. .. .. .. .. 12 Canterbury .. .. .. .. .. .. 26 Central Hawke's Bay .. .. .. .. 1 Gisborne .. .. .. .. .. 8 Hauraki .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 Hawera .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 Hawke's Bay and East Coast .. .. .. 9 Marlborough .. .. .. .. .. .. 14 Masterton .. .. .. .. .. 5 Middle districts .. .. .. .. .. .. 19 Nelson .. .. .. .. .. .. 12 New Plymouth .. .. .. .. .. ..13 Opotiki .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 Otago .. .. .. .. .. .. 8 Piako .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 Southern Cross Aviation Co. .. .. .. 2 South Canterbury .. .. .. .. .. 12 Stratford .. .. .. .. .. 6 Tauranga .. .. .. .. .. 8 Waikato .. .. .. .. .. .. 22 Waikato Aviation Co. .. .. .. .. 4 Wairarapa and Ruahine .. .. .. .. 12 Waitomo .. .. .. .. .. 2 Wanganui .. .. .. .. .. 6 Wellington .. .. .. .. .. 11 West Coast United .. .. .. .. 7 Total 234 No examination for Second-class Navigators' Licences was held during the year, due to the fact that the Standards and Practices of the International Civil Aviation Organization, which will shortly be adopted by New Zealand, do not permit licences in this category. The following table shows the results of the various examinations conducted by the branch during the year :

I have, &c, I. A. Scott, for Director of Civil Aviation.

31

Examination. Number conducted. Number of Candidates. Passed. Failed. " B " Licence 4 217 146 71 First-class Navigator's Licence 2 33 14 19 Aircraft Engineer's Examination— Category " A " 3 49 26 23 Category " B " 3 9 4 5 Category " C " 3 60 32 28 Category " D " 3 2 2 Category " X " 3 29 20 9