AVIATION CORPS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2679, 27 January 1916, Page 9

AVIATION CORPS

NEW ZEALAND VOLUNTEERS

OFFICIAL PRONOUNCEMENT

The procedure and qualifications which regulate enlistments in the British Flying Corps were the subject of an official pronouncement yesterday. Speaking to a reporter, the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. G. W. Russell) remarked: "Owing to the large number of applications for passports received from men of military age who expressed their desire to leave for England in order to join the British Aviation Corps, I forwarded on Jis'is/y 14 to the Minister of Defence a request for specific information as to whether there are likely to be vacancies in that corps open to New Zealanders, and what the conditions are. I asked the Minister to obtain a. direct statement from the War Office, so that these men who liad announced their wish to join the cordis might be given an official • statement, indicating whether their services were likely to be accepted for the Aviation Corps on ; their arrival in the Old Country." > The Minister of Defence (the Hon. J. Allen) has now forwarded to Mr. Russell the following memorandum embodying tile information sought; . "Information has been received from, the Imperial Government' that candidates for commissions in the Royal Flying Corps will be accepted under certain conditions.: Mechanics cannot be accepted for the Royal Flying Corps, at present as it has been notified that the establishment has been completed. j "The Imperial Government will grant free passages for officers who are recommended by the New Zealand Defence Department, but if they prove unable to graduate as military pilots after instruction they will be transferred for service with the infantry of the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces. "All candidates must —; "(a) Bo between the ages of 13 and 30. "(b) Pass the usual medical examination for candidates as laid down in the regulations. In addition they must satisfy the Medical Board on the following points' in particular—(l) Be in possession of normal eyesight without glasses: (2) not suffer from , any form of middle-ear disease; (3) that their respiratory, circulatory, and nervous systems are 'normal. "(cj Hold a commission in the Dominion military forces. "The New Zealand Government will consider the granting of a commission to any suitable man who may qualify for an aviator's certificate'under the rules of the Royal Aero Club, and fulfils all other conditions, but such must be British-born and the son of British-born parents. The sons of aliens or of naturalised aliens cannot be recommended under any circumstancos."