Praise For N.Z. Typist

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32194, 13 January 1970, Page 2

Praise For N.Z. Typist

A New Zealand woman, Miss Marjorie Jones, of Oamaru, will return home soon after three years as senior shorthand typist in the S.E.A.T.O. military planning office in Bangkok.

Praise for her work has been expressed at the seven military advisers’ conferences on which she has worked. At last October’s conference, the chairman (Admiral John S. McCain), the United States military adviser to S.EA.T.O. and United States Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific, paid tribute to Miss Jones’s “work and patience" in his closing address. During 15 years of service with the State Services Commission Miss Jones worked for 12 years as a secretary-

typist to members of the New Zealand Army Board. The other three years, spent with the External Affairs Department, gave her the advantage of working in the international field. In the administration division of the military planning office in Bangkok Miss Jones has worked with officers from Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, Britain, and the United States.

Her years with S.E.A.T.O. had been “a wonderful experience,” she- said. “This was my first time away from New Zealand, and of course I couldn’t help but learn from it Thailand is a wonderful country with wonderful people, and I have been very happy here.” Miss Jones had her own home in Bangkok and living among the Thais has enabled her to get to know them. She has travelled extensively throughout Thailand and also visited Cambodia and Burma. Although her work was demanding Miss Jones found time to continue her musical interests. A keen member of the Wellington Cathedral Choir she joined the Christ Church Choir in Bangkok, and for the last few months served as choir mistress. She also sang with the Bangkok Combined Choir.

The only woman member of the S.E.A.T.O. badminton club, she was also a foundation member of the Scottish Dancing Club in Bangkok which now flourished with members of many different nationalities. When she returns to New Zealand Miss Jones will spend some time with her mother, Mrs F. E. Jones, in Oamaru before taking up another appointment with the commission. Her position in Bangkok will be filled by Miss B. A. Most, of Auckland. The photograph shows Miss Jones at a meeting of the S.EJLT.O. military advisers.