LONG TOUR ENDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24639, 19 July 1943, Page 2

LONG TOUR ENDS

MINISTER OF DEFENCE 50,000 MILES BY AIR KETUIIN OF HON. F. JONES After travelling more than 50,000 miles by air, and several more thousands of miles by rail and road, the Minister of Defence, the Hon. I<\ Jones, arriv ed in Auckland on Saturday from an official tour which has taken him to many countries and has enabled him to meet almost all the Allied political and military leaders. Of extreme value also was the fact that he saw practically every unit ol the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Middle Fast, and Britain, all the .squadrons of the J'oval New Zealand Air Force in Britain and many members of the same service who are attached to other squadrons, many ol the Royal New Zealand Navy s personnel who are overseas, and a good portion of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Pacific. The King and Other Leaders Names of the Allied leaders Mr. Jones met read like a Who's \\ ho of the war. They included His Majesty King George VI., Mr. Churchill, Air. Roosevelt. Mr. W. L. Mackenzie King, Mr. J. Curtin, such famous military chiefs as General I). D. Eisenhower, General Sir Harold Alexander, General Sir Bernard Montgomery, Air Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder, Air Vice-Marsha! Sir Arthur Coningham, the American Chiefs of St:\ff at Washington, ViceAdmiral R. L. Ghormley at Honolulu, Admiral W. F. Halse.y in the South Pacific, and, more recently in Australia, General Douglas MacArthnr and New Zealand's own Lieutenant-General Sir Bernard Freyberg, V.C. "Wherever I went I found the New Zcalanders exceptionally well," said the Minister in an interview yesterday. "Nor did I find a keener lot of men than those who have gone from this count ry. High Praise for Men "All their commanding officers, these including many high-ranking British officers, spoke very highly of their excellence. and the high regard in which our men are held is one of the dominant impressions of my tour. In both political and military circles everyone 1 met expressed great and most sincere praise for the way in which our fighting forces have acquitted themselves. "Air. Churchill could not praise them enough for the magnificent tilings they have (lone. Mr. Roosevelt and his Chiefs of Staff. Admiral King and General Marshall, were equally complimentary. Wherever we went everyone gave exceptionally high praise to New Zealand's war effort, and particularly to the work of its fighting forces. New Zealand Women Overseas "Equally gratifying is the fact that, just as we have every reason to be proud of the service of our men and women overseas, so have we equal cause to be proud of their behaviour. Not only have New Zcalanders earned admiration as great fighters, but also are they well liked for themselves and for their conduct. "'l fie job our women are doing overseas is magnificent. 1 will never forget:. for instance, how I found nurses right up near the front line in North Africa. They vied with one another to be_ with the troops and refused to be shifted or relieved. "My visit has been very valuable to me." continued Mr. Jones! "and I hope the results will be helpful to many of the units I saw. 1 have made representations to higher authorities on several matters and think these representations will be to the men's benefit and satisfaction. Visit Welcome to Men "I think my visit was welcome. Many of those I saw have been a long time away from home and were keenly interested in what has been happening ill this part of the world. 1 was able to give them some information, including much of what they wanted to know about the fighting in*the Pacific. Thev appreciated the fact that they were getting something recent from" their own country. I also gave them the opportunity of asking many questions, and this gave me an excellent chance to see what they are thinking. "I hey were very keenly interested in post-war questions, particularly of rehabilitation, and I was able to "give them some information about what was going to be done for them on discharge." Mr. .Jones mentioned that during his tour he visited Canada and saw the Empire Air I raining Scheme in operation, fie found that the facilities for training and the amenities for the men's comfort were exceptionally good. In ( anada. as in all the other countries he had visited, the authorities and the people did their best for the servicemen. and lie had received many tributes from the men about the kindness with which they were treated. AIRCRAFT SUPPLIES STATEMENT BY MINISTER PROMISES BEING REDEEMED A statement that during his two Visits to the United States he had conversations about the supply of aircraft to New Zealand was made yesterday by the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones. cry gratifying promises were made during my first visit," he said "and I was interested to find on my way back to New Zealand that these promises were being redeemed." NEW R.S.A. PREMISES AGREEMENT TO PURCHASE The agreement for the sale to the Auckland Returned Services Association of British Chambers in High Street has been signed and the deposit of £2OOO has been paid. Possession will be taken as soon as the balance of the purchase money is paid, the period allowed tor this being six months. Several promises of financial support have been received by the association, which hopes to enter into possession well within the six months. A decorative scheme for the main entrance, commemorating the deeds of men and women of the services, is being designed. MAN FATALLY HURT FALL FROM A LADDER Injuries from which he later died were suffered on Saturday by an elderlv man. He was Mr. John Hutchings, single, aged 73, of Helensville. Mr. Hutchings fell from a liOft. ladder when he was topping trees, and received fractured ribs and possible internal injuries. He was taken to the Auckland Hospital, where he died shortly after noon yesterday. FOOTBALLERS INJURED Four footballers were injured while playing in games on Saturday and admitted to hospital. A married'man, Ted 1 Edwards, aged 29, a market gardener, who lives at Pukekohe East, received internal injuries while playing Rugb.v for Awatea at Bombay. His condition last night was serious. Richard Ball, aged 18, son of Mrs. G. Ball, of WaiuTcu, received a fracture of the left leg while playing for University. A seaman, Reginald Anderson, aged 19, of 51 Summer Street, Ponson by, suffered concussion in a game at Helensville. His condition last night was not considered serious. A schoolboy, Alexander Fdmund Kirkland, aged 11, son of Mr. A. Kirklaud, of ■'!() Church Street, Otahuhu, received a fracture of the left shoulder while playing Rugby League for Otahuhu at Grey Lynn Park.