AIR TRAINING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 March 1940, Page 8

AIR TRAINING

SPLENDIDLY SUSTAINED ENLISTMENT

LARGE NUMBERS OF MEN

WAITING.

STATEMENT BY MINISTER

OF DEFENCE.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

■ WELLINGTON, This Day. “file reason for the delay in calling up a large number of young men who have offered their services to the Air Force was explained in an interview by the Defence Minister, Mr Jones. He pointed out that long-range training in tms branch of the Defence scheme must be visualised. '*

The training was intensive, he added, covering in most cases a period in Canada as well as preliminary training in New Zealand, and the Dominion aimed not al a spasmodic effort, but at maintaining a steady supply of men to go overseas each montn. At present, 1,100 men had been medically examined and accepted for training and awaited posting to training units. They could not all be taken in at once. Ait crew applicants now awaiting interview totalled 2,600. At a recent series of interviews by the Selection Board, the result of the medical examination showed that out of I.44s’men. 1,109 passed the high test ot fitness and 336 were classed as temporarily unfit. This was a very high proportion of fit applicants when the strict nature of the examination was taken into account. Many who could not pass it were thoroughly fit physically for service in other branches of the Army. For the week ended March 9, applications for flying training totalled 259, and for non-flying duties 103. while the number now awaiting interviews in respect to their applications for ground duties was 576. These figures showed a splendidly sustained rate of enlistment, despite the fact that the men realised they could not all be called up immediately for training. In connection with this waiting peuod, employers could render the Dominion and the men themselves a great service by maintaining them in their jobs and then facilitating their release when the call came. Every month, 144 men were required for elementary flying training, 42 as observers and 72 as air gunners. Of the pilot personnel, 48 of the total would receive their advanced training in Canada and 96 in New Zealand. Except for initial ground training here, observers and air gunners would receive full training in Canada. ••We are rapidly expanding our training facilities and it will soon be possible to provide full training in the Dominion for 900 men per annum, leaving the remainder —approximately 2 200 per annum—to complete their training in Canada," the Minister stated. "With the system in full operation, just over 3,000 Air Force trainees can be dealt with in the Dominion at any given time. The system takes time to develop to its full extent; hence the reason for holding back many applicants until later in the year, and even in some cases until the beginning of the following year, owing to the very large number of applications which have been received. Those who have to stand down for a fairly long period will not. I am sure, allow their enthusiasm to wane when they realise that, training for such important duties has to be thorough and will not be sacrificed to any necessity for taking in excessive numbers in relation to the training facilities available.”