HON. F. JONES IN TUNISIA

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23941, 7 May 1943, Page 3

HON. F. JONES IN TUNISIA

VISIT TO NEW ZEALAND TROOPS FOUR DAYS IN FRONT LINE (Official War Correspondent N.Z.E.F.) NEAR ENFIDAVILLE, May 1. The Hon. F. Jones, Minister of Defence, to-day ended a four-day visit to the New Zealand Division. He had unusual opportunities not only of seeing New Zealand’s troops under frontline conditions, but also to observe at first hand one of the most difficult sectors on this major battlefront. The Minister was in the Middle East only a month ago, when he visited New Zealand troops in Egypt, Palestine, and Syria. Since then he has flown to Britain and returned. The Minister, with his secretary (Mr F. M, Sherwood), arrived at a Tunisian aerodrome on April 27, when he '/as met by Lieu-tenant-General Sir Bernard Freyberg and immediately proceeded to divisional headquarters. Next morning he embarked on an extremely thorough tour of every unit of the division, and for the succeeding three days was continually on the move, addressing personnel, inspecting the organisation of the division, and conferring with General Freyberg and his officers. During the whole tour Mr Jones was never out of earshot of guns. Travelling between scattered formations, often over temporary tracks and roads, many of them packed with the unceasing traffic of war, is itself a considerable physical strain, but the Minister added to this an average of nearly 12 addresses a day, and innumerable personal and official discussions.

At every unit he invited questions, and although his time was limited he endeavoured to answer as fully as possible the many general and personal inquiries made. As Mr Jones admitted after one session it was strenuous training for the election campaign ahead, for the men put to him a wide variety of questions ranging from personal business, to issues of national policy and rehabilitation.’ The Minister not only gave the men a brief outline of conditions in New Zealand, with particular reference to defence commitments and the war effort, but added to the greetings from their own people those of many of the Allied war leaders whom he had met on his tour. These included Mr Churchill, Mr Eden, and many leading Americans.