NEW ZEALAND ARMY PRAISED

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24545, 19 April 1945, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND ARMY PRAISED

TRIBUTES BY BRITISH GENERALS “The fighting forces have certainly deserved every word of commendation you men of the last war have given to those of this war,” said the Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) at the annual reunion last evening of the Christchurch branch of the Returned Servicemen’s Association. Jellicoe Hall was packed for the reunion, at which the comradeship displayed by old and new soldiers was commended by the Minister. The Minister said Sir Harold Alexander had said to him: “Mr Jones, I am not talking to you as Minister of Defence—the New Zealand Division is the best the world has ever seen. General Boyd Browning had told him: “I am not trying to pull your leg—your Division is a great division. He had talked to other generals who had told him that the New Zealanders we re told him otherwise if they said they were “ rotten.” . „ “In this country we see slackening, said Mr Jones. “Some are not pulling their weight; but when the history of the war is written it will be shown that this country has done a marvellous job in providing food and munitions.” * The Minister was proposing the toast of the fighting forces. It was heartily drunk. A solemn break in the bright programme of items was the- : ending of “Reveille” by Mr :F. Fox and the dimming of the lighting in the ball as a tribute to old comrades.