ISLAND FORCES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25306, 17 August 1943, Page 2

ISLAND FORCES

NEW ZEALANDERS’ TASKS ARDUOUS CONDITIONS (F.0.P.R.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 16. Some idea of the tasks being carried out by men and women of the armed forces of New Zealand in islands of the Pacific and the conditions under which they are living was given in an interview to-day by the Minister of the Armed Forces and War Coordination, Mr W. Perry. Accompanied by Lieutenant-general E. Puttick, { G.0.C., New Zealand Forces, his aide-de-camp, Captain G. Crossley, Mr Foss Shanahan, secretary of the Chiefs of Staff Committee and assistant secretary of the War Cabinet, and Mr G. A. Hayden, secretary to the National Patriotic Fund Board, the Minister recently visited all the islands where New Zealand personnel are serving. Mr Perry said he was greatly impressed with what he saw. Men serving in our naval units and the Royal New Zealand Air Force in these areas had already given convincing evidence of their and would give more. Our American Allies had nothing but the highest praise for them _ “The land forces in all the islands are in fine fettle, in spite of the hardships they have undergone in one island in particular, where the majority are located,” the Minister said. In all the islands for many months men have toiled unceasingly, making somethin gout of nothing. They have made thing out of nothing. They have made made many new roads. They have built living quarters, messrooms, recreation rooms, huge stores, hospitals, and all the buildings required to house and service an army. “All this has been done in spite of much atrocious weather and mosquitoes and other pests which infest many of the islands. Furthermore, throughout the whole period they have trained extensively. They have been out on battle exercises for days on end in the conditions I have just described. New Zealand should be proud of them. “ j understand that some benighted people have referred to them scornfully as ‘the banana pickers and pineapple eaters basking in the sunshine of the tropical islands.’ The people who have made such statements will need to live long beyond the allotted span to live down their shame. The sisters, nurses, W.A.A.C.’s, and others are equally splendid. No task is too onerous for them, and all their work is done with the utmost zest and cheerfulness. “ The greatest co-ordination exists between our American allies and our forces, not only among the officers, but among the rank and file as well,” Mr Perry added. "The native troops I saw impressed me tremendously by their keenness and intense interest in their work. The speed with which they handle all weapons is most impressive, and their precision in arms is something to marvel at. Should they ever be given an opportunity of going into battle they will rival the deeds of our own Maoris and the great Fourth Indian Division of the incomparable Eighth Army."