Tough on Everybody, Says Mr. Nash

Chronicle (Levin), 2 April 1948, Page 3

Tough on Everybody, Says Mr. Nash

AUCKLAND, April 1, The Minister of Finance, Hon. W. Nash, was the lirst passenger ashore from the Pan-American Airways clipper Oriental at Whenuapai this afternoon. The Minister looked rather tired but said he had never been better and .was • glad to be hoine again after the long journey. ■ In a brief half-hour available before leaving for Parapar'aumu by air, he gaVc a press interview> was photo- ■ graphed several times, had a cup of tea, accepted two long distance telephone calls and shook hands i^ith a little boy who happened to be passing. Mr. Nash said it had been a most arduous conference at Uavana. It had lasted four months and three days and had been "tough on'bverybody." ' "I appreciate thd-^hiazing work done .by members of 'the staff who were with me," the Minister continued. "They have worked very hard including Saturdays and Hundays with scheduled meetings six days a week, three times a day. Indeed they were out of Havana only on three occasions, There were 800' meetings at the- cbnferelrce" extending; over 300 htrars tvitli'2560 diffeirent docji- '

iaents to read. The actual number of foolscap stencilled sheets amounted to over 10,000,000." Mr. Nash, who was accompanied only by Mr. Gh J. Schmitt, of the Treasury, and Mr. P. A. Barnes, private secretary, was barely half an hour on the ground at Whenuapai and did not leave the air movements building. He spoke for a few minutes to Mrs. Nash in Wellington and was fully oceupied while his luggage, including a bulky case of documents, was transferred from the "big Skymaster to the Royal New Zealand Air Force plane that was waiting to take him south. The Skymaster had not been taken away to her parking area for the night by the time Mr. Nash and his party were . air borne for Paraparaumu.