REACHED TOP-GEAR

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21362, 5 March 1941, Page 4

REACHED TOP-GEAR

EMPIRE AIR SCHEME PROGRESS IN DOMINION (By Teleg-rspU.—Press Association) AUCKLAND, Wednesday “Training under the Empire Air Scheme has now reached top gear/’ said the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, in an interview. He expressed pride in the record of New Zealand airmen serving with the Royal Air Fprce. A total of 74 Dominion airmen had received decorations. New Zealand, he added, was able to reach its maximum output under the Empire scheme because of the comprehensive framework for expansion, which was se% up long belore the war. Pre-war schemes for building up the Air Force enabled the Government to take the tremendous expansion of the Empire scheme in its stride. There had been nearly 23,000 ap;.lications in New Zealand to join the Air Force but many men became impatient as a result of waiting to be admitted and joined the Expeditionary Force. Altogether some thousands of pilots, observers and air-gunners from New r Zealand were being trained this year, in addition to a considerable number of mechanics and technicians.

A recruiting campaign to ensure a continued and adequate inflow of volunteers into the Air Force would be launched shortly, concluded Mr Fraser, who added that many were willing to join up but were probably not aware that there were vacancies for them.