AIR TRAINING SCHEME

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 18, 16 October 1942, Page 5

AIR TRAINING SCHEME

Conference In London (Received October 15, 7 p.m.) LONDON, October 14. A conference will be held in London next Friday between the British, Australian and New Zealand Governments to discuss the extension of the Empire air training scheme till March 31,1945. New Zealand will be represented by the High Commissioner, Mr. Jordan, the Air Secretary, Mr. Barrow, and Air Commodore Isitt. The Associated Press understands that it is hoped to make substantial progress to clear up “two sore points”—air crew' promotions and the low proportion of all-Australian air crews aud tralian squadrons. The New Zealand and Australian Air Forces are also likely to win the right to appoint personnel and liaison officers to all R.A.F commands in Britain and abroad. They hope to secure an agreement which will parallel the British-Canadian agreement. Well-informed authorities consider the most satisfactory system would be one under which the Australian Air Force headquarters in London and also New Zealand liaison officers will "police” promotions for nationals serving with the R.A.F. aud will have their own promotion boards, to which meu could apply direct instead of depending on the R.A.F. machinery. It is stated that some excellent meu do not apply for commissions, and that tlierefore it is desirable that the initiative should be taken by the New Zealand or Australian headquarters acting on their records and also from reports of personnel officers.