DIFFICULT TASK

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24538, 22 March 1943, Page 2

DIFFICULT TASK

DEFEATING JAPANESE NEW ZEALAND'S PART CAIRO, March 20 "Licking the Japanese is going to be a tough job," said the New Zealand Minister of .Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, j at a press conference. "The Japanese j are not afraid to die. Tlioy took some I hard knocks before being driven from Guadalcanal*. The Americans now in! New Zealand are fine young men of ex-; ccllcnt behaviour. We have watched i them in training and followed their for-j tunes. We think they did a great job. ".New Zealand and .Maori soldiers, have done themselves great credit in this war." Mr. Jones proceeded. "We are greatly indebted to their fine show in the Middle East. The New Zealand Navy, although still small, is 10 times \ bigger than it was at the outbreak of| war. The New Zealand Air Force has j shown enormous expansion from a personnel of 200 at the outbreak of the war to the many thousands now on service. "In spite of this mobilisation, New Zealand is producing more than ever essential goods and is supplying much of the needs of the Americans, but the New Zealand Government's concern is not limited to war. We have already seriously tackled the problem of rehabilitation of men ana women after the war. "We have always faced the position that if Britain should be defeated in this war we would be defeated," Mr. Jones concluded. "We believe we are plaving a part in the whole war as well as 111 the protection of our own country. "Allied successes in the Pacific give New Zealand an increased sense of security which enables our Dominion to readjust the distribution of its own forces. We were restricted in equipment after the outbreak of the war against Japan.- Large quantities of guns, rifles and ammunition have been sent to New Zealand, but we have not yet all that we want." The British Minister of State in the Middle East, Mr. R. G. Casey, presided over the conference. VISIT TO TROOPS HON. F. JONES IN CAIRO (N.Z.E.F. News Service) CAIRO, March 19 The New Zealand Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, is spending the first days of his Middle East visitI at Maadi camp. Yesterday he was rej ceived by a Maori guard of honour and i met the heads of the Services and senior staff officers, including the matron- j | in-chief, Miss E. M. JSiutsey, M.8.E., | | and Brigadier K. McCormick, D.M.S. i He was accompanied on a tour of the i camp by Brigadier W. G. Stevens and j Lieutenant-Colonel W. A. T. McGuire, i A.A.Q.M.G. j An inspection of headquarters offices was followed by a tour of the training schools. He saw troops going through a special assault course, where thousands of New Zealanders have learned close bayonet and rifle fighting. The Minister was among a group of American troops visiting New Zealand friends. In all speeches to the troops he emphasised the concern the Government was giving in New Zealand to rehabilitation. "Our contact with the New Zealanders has been extremely _ happy," said Sir Godfrey Huggins. Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia, in answer to a question by a New Zealand representative at a press conference in Cairo last night. Sir Godfrey is visiting the Middle East to discuss war problems as tlie.v affect his own country, and hopes while here to visit as many Rhodesians as possible, also to meet more New Zealanders, of whom lie lias heard so much. THE PRIME MINISTER ENGAGEMENTS IN PROVINCE (0.c.) WELLINGTON, Sunday The Prime Minister, the lit. Hon. P. Eraser, will leave for Rotorua to-mor-row to fulfil a number of official engagements in the Auckland Province. He is to attend the official opening by the Governor-General, Sir Cyril Newall, of the Maori Centennial meeting house at Rotorua on Wednesday and will then proceed to Ngaruawahia, where on Saturday about 500 American servicemen are to be the guests of King Koroki and Princess Te Puea Herangi. Mr. Eraser will travel to Auckland to take part in the official unveiling of the memorial to the lato Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, at Bastion Point on Sunday afternoon. PRISONERS OF WAR LETTERS AND PARCELS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Saturday A cablegram from the International Red Cross advises the Prisoners of War inquiry Office that a large number of letters to New Zealand prisoners of war are incorrectly addressed, involving considerable delays in delivery and possible non-delivery. The office emphasises the importance of adhering strictly to the instructions set out in the official brochure and leaflet supplied by flic post office. Cabled advice has been received that camp Stalag XVII IB was closed in the middle of January, and addresses of all prisoners concerned should be changed 1o Stalag XVIIIA. Working party numbers will remain unchanged. It is not anticipated that the change will prejudice the delivery of any parcels already despatched. The office still urgently requires copies of letters from prisoners interned at Stalag VIIIB and Oflag lIIC, written from and including October last. Next-of-kin are advised that special wool for prisoners of war can still he purchased on presentation of the special wool coupon card. Advice has been received from England that 635,000 food parcels, approximately 30,000 invalid comfort parcels, and 15,500 tobacco parcels and food in hulk estimated to ho equivalent to 75,000 parcels were despatched to camps in Germany and Italy for the period of four weeks from the middle of October. DIFFICULTIES AT MINE (P.A.) WESTPORT, Sunday Speaking at Stockton to-day the Minister of Mines, the Hon. P. C. Webb, said he regretted the conditions revealed at the mine which threatened to force the company into liquidation. Re asked the company to carry on in ihe meantime until the Government had time to consider the position as coal was in urgent demand.