33

A.—2.

(2) Candidates would undertake on entry to transfer to the Air Reserve of the Dominion when they leave the United Kingdom; or, alternatively, they could be gazetted simultaneously to the Reserve both of the Royal Air Force and of the Dominion, relinquishing the former commission on finally proceeding oversea. During their residence in the United Kingdom the Dominion commission would be in abeyance. (3) The minimum term of service would be five years, two years at least of which would be spent in the Reserve of Air Force Officers. (4) All expenditure on training, pay, and allowances, and retaining-fees up to the time of transfer to the Dominion reserve would be paid by the Air Ministry in the first instance ; on transfer, the Dominion Government would reimburse to the Air Ministry an agreed contribution in respect of the period of service still to be performed under the officer's engagement. (5) The Dominion Government would share the liability for non-effective benefits, loss through non-completion of service, medical expenses, &c., on a basis to be determined after further discussion. 4. It is proposed that the cost of the first year's service (covering the ab initio training and two quarters' annual training, on the completion of which the officer qualifies for pilots' wings) should be taken as the amount divisible between the British Exchequer and the Dominion. This cost varies between £600 and £800. The contribution payable by the Dominion Government would, therefore, amount to between £150 and £200 in respect of each year of service remaining in the officer's engagement at the date of his transfer to the Dominion Reserve Force. No allowance is made in these figures for the additional items of expense mentioned in (5) of the preceding paragraph. Special provision would be necessary for the case of officers transferred after service for broken periods of a year. 5. The Council would not propose to make any charge in respect of outlay incurred on any preliminary training received at a university air squadron. 6. I should be glad to receive the views of His Majesty's Government in New Zealand on the above proposals for communication to the Air Council. 7. A similar despatch is being addressed to His Majesty's Governments in Canada, the Commonwealth of Australia, and the Union of South Africa. I have, &c., PASSFIELD. Governor-General His Excellency General Sir C. Fergusson, Bart., LL.D., G.C.M.G., K.C.8., D.5.0., M.V.0., &c.

No. 46. New Zealand, Dominions No. 504. Sir, — Downing Street, 4th November, 1929. I have the honour to state for the information of His Majesty's Government in New Zealand, that His Majesty the King has been pleased to approve of His Majesty's Legation at Warsaw being raised to the status of an Embassy, and has been pleased to appoint the Honourable Sir William Augustus Forbes Erskine, K.C.M.G., M.V.0.. His Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at Warsaw, to be His Majesty's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary at that capital. I have, &c., PASSPIELD. Governor-General His Excellency General Sir C. Fergusson, Bart., LL.D., G.C.M.G., K.C.8., D.5.0., M.Y.0., &c.