CIVIL RESERVE PLANNED

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22511, 20 September 1938, Page 7

CIVIL RESERVE PLANNED

Royal New Zealand

Air Force

MINISTER ANNOUNCES

CONDITIONS

(IVRKSS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, September 19. The Minister for Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) announced a general plan of the Air Department for the formation of a civil reserve of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, with an initial strength of 5000 men. The purpose of the reserve plan is to build up a body of men, with special training and experience, who may-be used as auxiliaries of the Air Force in the event of emergency. The. men chiefly sought are those ■whose profession or. trade form the basis for corresponding duties in the Air Force in one of the following groups:—

Group 1: For those with experience in senior executive, administrative or technical positions, who in war could fill vacancies for commissioned officers. Technical officers are required to act as instructors in engineering, armament,, navigation, wireless telegraphy, photography, and to supervise the work of personnel in these trades. Group 2: For men in technical trades, especially fitters, motor mechanics, metal workers, cabinetmakers, electricians, wireless operators, fabric workers, photographers, instrument makers, etc. Group 3: For administrative personnel, clerks, warehousemen, storemen, etc. No previous experience of aircraft or aircraft equipment is necessary. In registering, a man undertakes that in the event of war he will join the Royal New Zealand Air Force for service within the Dominion. The upper age limit has been fixed at 55, and the lower limit of age is 22. ! Although the civil reserve forms part of the organisation of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, it is not intended that in peace its members shall be issued with uniforms, or receive pay, and any training which they may care to undertake will be purely voluntary. The register will he- initially limited to 5000 names; but those who apply after all vacancies have been filled will be placed on the supplementary list.

PART OF NORMAL DEVELOPMENT

PLAN MADE EIGHTEEN MONTHS AGO

(PKKBB ASSOCIA.TTOK TELEGRAM.)

WELLINGTON, September 19.

The call for personnel for a reserve of the Royal New Zealand Air Force is part of a plan foxmulated 18 months ago for the expansion of the force, and is not connected with the present European situation. Inquiries made today elicited the information that the establishment of the reserve is merely part of normal development of the Air Force.

Applications are being called from men skilled in many trades who, after instructions, in time of war, could have their training applied to Air Force duties. To maintain the Air Force at a strength greater than would be required to meet a sudden emergency is not considered practicable in peace time. The present appeal is for men whose profession, trade, or experience would form the basis for Air Force work.