MORE COMMISSIONS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20915, 15 October 1942, Page 5

MORE COMMISSIONS

L .VKiYh DOMINION AIRMEN REVIEW OF POLICY ; (3 .p.m.) >• LONDON, 0ct.,13. 1 The status 1 -of* *New ;‘Zealand and 1 .Australian- : air-crew members is likely to be improved as a 1 result of the forthcoming London conference between representatives of those two air forces' and the Royal Air Force, says the Associated PreSSi hP *:**., {0 Canada, the 'fourth partner- in the Empire air scheme, has already departed from the original policy whereby commissions were gran, air-crews and* personnel on ‘it fixed percentage of pilots and observers [arid others. The Canadian Air Force' spokesman said that Canada Tor some time had been pursuing a more aggressive commissioning p'dliey ' totall air-crew members than .the*ißoyal Air Force-or any other Dominion. , “The Canadian policy is that all ait 1 -' crew personnel shall be commissioned if of commissionable quality,” -h'e said. “They have a right to apply for commissions through the commanding officer, without necessarily awaiting his recommendation ” The abolition of commissioning - a percentage basis would remove the most serious obstacle in the way of more commissions for New Zealand and Australian air-crews, who have earned a statifs equivalent to . their American; and-Canadian comrades.