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Manning Insufficient response has been made to the various recruiting campaigns to secure the personnel required for the proper manning of the ground trades. Neither the numbers offering nor the general standard of applicant has been satisfactory. The variety of attractive opportunities for employment outside the Service has resulted in the R.N.Z.A.F. being merely another bidder for labour in a scarce market, where the conditions of service have tendered to favour civilian employment. For the Women's Auxiliary Air Force, however, both the reponse and the standard of applicant have been very satisfactory. The conditions of service in the R.N.Z.A.F. have been recently improved by an increase in the percentage of permanent engagements available to airmen. Recruiting for the Regular Air Force resulted in a total of 959 personnel being enlisted during the period as shown in the following table : {a) From United Kingdom— Ex-R.A.F. tradesmen .. .. .. .. 129 (b) From within New Zealand — (i) Airmen including aircrew Cadets .. .. .. 477 (ii) Airwomen .. .. .. .. .. 239 (iii) Cadet entrants .. .. .. .. 114 Total .. .. .. .. ..959 The effective strength of the R.N.Z.A.F. in terms of trained personnel has decreased slightly during the period under review, although there has been some improvement in the gross strength position. The training periods in respect of many of the more highly skilled trades are in excess of one year inclusive of recruit training, from which it will be appreciated that a marked improvement in the effective strength position takes some time to achieve. A matter of serious concern in the manning of the Service within New Zealand is the shortage of personnel in domestic trades, which has necessitated the misemployment of more highly skilled personnel in order to maintain essential services. The most pressing problem in maintaining the effective strength is associated with the high release rate from the Service which, in the period under review, amounted to 586 personnel, many of whom were fully trained. Chief among the causes of this high wastage rate are the inability of the Service to provide sufficient married quarters, and the necessity for Service reasons to move personnel from one location to another. Women's Auxiliary Am Force The strength of the W.A.A.F. at 31st March, 1950. was 18 officers and 343 airwomen. Exchange or Service With Other Commonwealth Air Forces The exchange of officers with the Royal Air Force has continued, and it is hoped in the coming year to arrange similar exchanges with the Royal Australian Air Force. Five officers of the R.N.Z.A.F. have been on exchange duty in the United Kingdom, This scheme continues to be most beneficial to the R.N.Z.A.F. and represents an appreciable economy from the training point of view. Courses During the year 1 officer attended the Joint Services Staff College, 2 officers the Royal Air Force Staff College, and 4 officers various Royal Air Force specialist courses in the United Kingdom. Two officers attended the R. A. A.F. School of Land/Air Warfare, and 1 is at present a student at the R.A.A.F. Staff College.

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