N.Z. Defence Minister Returns To London

Northern Advocate, 18 May 1943, Page 3

N.Z. Defence Minister Returns To London

(Special) LONDON, May 17. Mr. Jones and Mr. Sherwood returned tc London in time for last night’s air raids. Mr. Jones went to the station this. morning and saw off Mr. Lowry and Mr. Endean on their provincial tour. Mr. Jones is now arranging to continue his interrupted programme of visits to members of the New Zealand forces.

Twenty-two hours after leaving Cairo the N.Z. Minister for Defence (Mr Jones) arrived in England. He and his secretary (Mr Sherwood) flew in a Liberator bomber and made only one landing during tinlong flight, when they stayed three hours at Algiers. There were no seats in the Liberator, so they flew under service conditions and slept occasionally on mattresses.

Mr Jones said: “We were reasonably comfortable and certainly have had worse trips.” ** Mr Jones was delighted with his experiences. When visiting the N.Z.E.F. he found the men “very tired but cheerful.” He was of the opinion that they appreciated the Government sending some one to visit them in the forward area. Mr Jones stated he had the most helpful talks with General Freyberg, whom he had not seen since General Freyberg left New Zealand with the N.Z.E.F. Medical Work Praised

Mr Jones was much impressed by the “wonderful organisation” built up in connection with the Division and praised particularly the medical work cf Colonel McCormick, also the work of Colonel Kendrick. He added that there were many little-heard-of units doing good work—for instance the port detachment unit at Suez, which was responsible for reducing pilfering of goods sent from New Zealand from 15 to one per cent. The same applied to the unit at Tripoli. “Everywhere I went I heard the warmest tributes by our men to the work of the R.A.F., of which they could not speak too highly. We once saw 6CO sorties pass over headquarters in one morning, and, as our boys said, ‘they are all our own brand.’ ” Since returning to London Mr Jones has met Mr Attlee and Mr Bovin, who were most interested to hear his experiences.