AIRMEN WANTED

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20907, 12 September 1939, Page 9

AIRMEN WANTED

R.A.F. CREW SECTION TRAINING IN NEW ZEALAND RANK OF LEADING AIRCRAFTSMEN (By TelegTapn.—Special to Times) WELLINGTON, Monday Applications are called for pilots, observers and air-gunners for service with the Royal Air Force and the Royal New Zealand Air Force. The Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, said today that the men were required for an air-crew section of the Royal Air Force formed for the duration of the war. Applicants, who must be unmarried, between the age of 17$ and 28 years, physically fit and educated up to the standard of the school certificate or university entrance (matriculation) examination, will be enlisted for the duration of the war. Their training will be carried out in New Zealand, and they will be granted the rank of leading aircraftsmen and paid at the rate of £l5O a year, plus rations and quarters. If selected for service overseas, candidates will be granted free passages to the United Kingdom and their pay will continue until they report for duty with the Royal Air Force. Rank on completion of training will depend on the ability shown while under training and the nature of the men's duties. This scheme replaces all previous methods of entry, and Is now the only method for untrained men to enter the flying branch of either service. Inquiries should be addressed to the Air Department, Wellington. FOR HOME DEFENCE MAORIS OFFER BATTALION (Special to Times) WHAN GAR EI, Monday Maoris in North Auckland are in favour of the raising of a Maori force for home defence, but are opposed to conscription. This attitude was defined at a large and representative meeting of the leaders of the race in North Auckland held at Toetoe, near Whangarei, during the week-end. The following resolution was passed and forwarded to Mr P. K. Paikea, Member of Parliament for Northern Maori: “That this conference unanimously approves of eligible members of the Maori race enlisting for military service for home defence alone, and suggests that a battalion be organised and named the Treaty of Waitangi Maori Battalion; that this unit be under Maori officers, and that the Minister of Defence be asked to make the necessary arrangements for equipping and training this unit. Compulsion is strongly opposed by the conference.” IN ANY CAPACITY BOY SCOUTS OFFER TO SERVE (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Monday A message has been sent to the acting-Prime Minister, the Hon. P. Fraser, by the Dominion Headquarters of the New Zealand Boy Scouts offering the services of the association to the country in any civil capacity in which they could be used. AIR FORCE RESERVE FURTHER CALLS LIKELY TECHNICAL PERSONNEL (By Telegraph.— Press Association) WELLINGTON, Monday “ Small groups of the Civil Reserve of the New Zealand Air Force have already been called up, and further calls, particularly of technical personnel, will be made in the next few months,” said the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, to-night. “ At it will be a considerable time before the bulk of Civil Reserve members can be absorbed into the Air Force, any member who desires to volunteer for the special military force is free to do so,” said the Minister. “ He should first ask permission from the Air Department and will either be released from his obligation to the Air Force or advised that his services in the force will be required in the immediate future.”