CEREMONY AT WEREROA

New Zealand Listener, Volume 2, Issue 28, 5 January 1940, Page 4

CEREMONY AT WEREROA

(By " 23/762")

EREROA, ofice associated in the \X/ public mind with " naughty" boys, is still a training school but one with a vastly different outlook and purpose. To-day smart young men in Air Force blue uniforms take their first léssons in various branches of air activity; at Wereroa they begin instruction which will eventually make them efficient units in the vast organisation of the Royal Air Force, either as pilots, gunners, observers, or mechanics. Weretoa, then, might well be termed the ctadie of the Royal New Zealand Air Foree. * * * Until recently I had never seen Wereroa. Then, one Sunday when the green countryside was drenched with sunshine and the thermometer leaped to summer heights, I journeyed there with the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, who was to take the salute with Group Captain L. M. Isitt, Acting Chief of Air Staff, at the first ceremonial " passing out" ceremony to be held in New Zealand. Other such ceremonies have been planned, but Fate has wrecked them by circumstance and weather. From now on a "passing out" ceremony will be held at Wereroa each month, as eacli lot of recruits leaves the school to make way for others. For the duration of the present war a constant stream of young New Zealanders will leave the Dominion to add their strength and ability to a powerful fighting force. a * * Across the shaven surface of a green parade ground marched 200 young men -airmen of the future who will wear their wings with pride. Their blue grey uniforms made a strong note of moving colour; every button glinted in the flat. tering sunshine. While Mr. Jones inspected them, passing from rank to rank with an eye to the fit and general appearafice of those uniforms, the Air Force band in the rear accompanied him with a swinging, lilting melody. Motion picture cameras recorded the scene for all the world to see later on. Scarcely a leaf of the trees surrounding the parade ground turned in the shimtmering teat. Conditions were perfect. ‘Then, from a special base, the Minister, accompanied by Group Captain Isitt and other officers, stood to take the Salute. First the men passed by in flights, moving to the lively beat of the band; once more they passed the base, this time in mass as a wing. Re.-forming once mote into two ranks, they moved ‘forward in review order, where they re mained while the Minister addressed them.

It was ho long speech, this, merely a sincere tribute to the men themselves; another tribute to the New Zealand airmen of the last war, and the hope that these men would maintain past reputations and build new ones. Finally the thanks of the Government, which was proud that these men had offered their services, and a hint to the men of things to come. No platitudes-just a simple statement expressed sincerely by a Minister who is conscientiously and thoroughly doing a fine job of work,

Those men behaved like veteransperfect springing step, arms swinging like machines, heads held high. It was difficult to believe that a month ago they were civilians, some at work as accountants, engineers, mechanics; others just leaving school. Such is the effect of training on an alert mind and a healthy body. They marched in fours, for the Air Force has not yet adopted the Army’s movement of threes for

parade ground manoeuvres. Incidentally those are the only manoeuvres the Air Force performs on the ground, Of seats along the edge of the field visitors and friends applauded the men as they swung past. * * . Tea followed. Tables and chairs had been set in pools of cool shade thrown by the spreading trees of a garden round the officers’ mess-a tfuly garden party setting for an informal meeting. Others took tea in mess rooms decorated for the occasion, Soon the Minister was on the move again, taking the opportunity to see how Wereroa has been transformed in’a few short months. Through messroorms and kitchens, ablution houses and classrooms, tents and sleeping quarters he made. his way, In the school rooms the men begin their training before going on to othet centres, to take specialist courses at Wigtam, Blenheim, Taieri, and Hobsonville; or any of the other training schools in New Zealand's large establishment. Not the least interesting were rooms complete with charts, designs, paftachutes, and other teaching equipment and, in one instance, a motion picture plant. "One of the most satisfactory methods of training recruits," Group Captain Isitt told us, as a short film was presented so that Mr. Jones might see for himself something practical in the way of instruction. These talking films are by experts who explain what the trainees should and should not do as the film is thfown on the screen. Then out into the shimmering sunshine again to see the tents (a legacy from the Public Works Department) open to sun and breeze when the sides are rolled. It was easy to believe the officer who told us that there was little or no sickness at Wereroa. One look at the canteen, sheltering in a garden of shrubs and lawn, then a few words of thanks to the Air Force Band before saying good-bye to Wereroa. The men themselves are happy there, for the school is situated in ideal surroundings. Trees in profusion surround buildings and the training quarters, a swimming pool will soon be ready; there is the blue-grey sweep of hills on one side and not many miles away on the other is the great curving beach of Otaki and Levin. But, curiously enough, there are no airplanes at Wereroa, even though it is an Air Force Training School; these come later when the trainees atrive at their other centres.