NEW AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 257, 25 July 1919, Page 7

NEW AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE

I « ~ THE NEW SCHEME payments to officers and ; men Despite the vigorous protests that Lave i been made against the adoption of tho I ambitious aerial defence scheme for the ; Commonwealth which was outlined some I months ago by the Federal Government, ' tiie authorities are pressing forward their 5 plans for the establishment of an Aus- ■ tralian Air Force. Tlie preparations are I indeed already well advanced. As a pre- { liminary to tho creation of the new I force the Central Flying School at Point I Cook will be disbanded, but officers and , men connected with tlie school will be i invited to join tlie now force. Bates of payment and conditions of service have been provisionally drawn up. Officers and airmen may 1» appointed for limited periods, not exceeding five years, but they may be reappointed for a further period. An officer or an airman may at any time be retired or transferred to the reserve. The Air Board will be aiilhoised to fix the conditions of service and of retirement from time to time, and the j rates of payment are to be as follow:— Consolidated annual pay. ■ Technical Flying and other branch, branches. Bank. £ & Sergeants, pilot, or observer (probationary)... 150 (a) — Sergeant, .pilot or ob- . server 200 (a) Second lieutenant 225 (ty 22a Lieutenant 350 (b) ooil Captain 450 (b) 450 Major 550(1)1 550 Lieut.-Colonel 025 (b) 625 Notes (a) and (b).-In view of the cur. tailed periods of service in the ilymg branch, for each complete year of service the following additional rates of deferred pay will bo credited :-(a) .£SO, (b)'ilOO. and paid to tho officers and non-comnns. eidneel officers above-named on retirement or transfer to the reserve. (2) The annual consolidated rates ol pay for ranks not specified in the last preceding sub-regulation shall be as'follow :— TECHNICAL. Per annum. Chief master mechanic £230t0X285 Master mechanic m 1) to £225 Chief mechanic £200 to ,£2lO Sergeant mechanic £190 to .£2OO Corporal mechanic £160 to £w8 Air mechanic I ~£W Air mechanic II y ....£132 to £140 NON-TECHNICAL. Per annum. ■ Sergeant-major I .£220 to .£230 Sergeant-major II £200 to £215 Flight-sergeant ,£l6O to .£IBO Sergeant £150 to £160 Corporal J3120 to .£l3B Privnto v £104 to .£llß Many members of the flying school complain bitterly of the low rate of payment proposed for those holding the rank of private, viz., £2 per week, without any additional allowance for board or clothing. ' In April last the Commonwealth Government announced that it had given approval to iv scheme providing for the establishment of various aviation schools, for squadrons of aeroplanes, seaplanes, and an airship section, for a personnel amounting to from 1300 to 1400 officers and men, and for an initial expenditure of about ,£500,000, and.an annual expendiluro of pay and maintenance of from ,£400,000 to [£500,000. The scheme originally provided for the maintenance for training purposes of the Laverton school, and it was proposed to erect two complete stations—one at Corio Bay, Geelong, and the other near Sydney. The former would be equipped with aeroplanes and flying boats, and the Sydney station with aeroplanes, S.S.T. airships and kite balloons. The establishment of the stations to commence with would provide two squadrons of aeroplanes, the seaplane squadron, tlie airship section, the balloon section, and an administrative staff and air repair, section. Although tho air board has not yet been appointed, the names of General Leslie and Jlr. G. Swinburne, who, in conjunction with Colonel Mairiiire, ■worked out u scheme of aerial defence, have been freely mentioned as likely appointees.