AIR FORCE RESERVE

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20733, 17 February 1939, Page 8

AIR FORCE RESERVE

THE CIVILIAN SECTION MORE RECRUITS SOUGHT (By Telegrapn.—press Association) WELLINGTON, Thursday “As a result of an analysis of applications received for enrolment in the civil reserve of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, it is gratifying to learn I bat the general calibre of the qualifTcations of those who have applied for inclusion in the register fully justifies the Cabinet's decision toward the end of last year to form a civilian section of the Air Force Reserve,” said the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, in a statement to-day. The present scheme involves the compilation for use in a national emergency of a register containing the names of those citizens whose qualifications fit them for service in the ground organisation essential to the effectiveness of the Air Force.

“The training of members of the reserve in peace time is not contemplated, although certain groups may later be afforded an opportunity of receiving instruction, so that their members may be able, if called upon, to adapt their civil professions or trades to Air Force requirements at short notice. Actual flying experience or tuition does not come -within the scope of this scheme. Interviews Proposed “In order that the Air Department may be able to assess the ability of individual members, and thus decide the positions which they might be capable of filling,” continued -the Minister, “two qualified men have been appointed, one for each island, to interview members of the reserve. In the engineering sections one of the objects of the scheme is to ensure that if men have to be called up in an emergency it can be done with a minimum interference to industry. For this reason it is proposed, subject to the convenience of employers, that interviews should be held at the place of employment. “In the meantime it is not proposed to interview- applicants for professional, administrative and clerical appointments. Further enrolments are still desired from among men in the engineering profession and in the allied trades of fitters, welders, motor mechanics, sheet metal workers, electricians and the like.”