DEFENCE MINISTER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 July 1943, Page 3

DEFENCE MINISTER

RETURN FROM OVERSEAS TOUR NEW ZEALAND FORCES PRAISED IN POLITICAL & MILITARY CIRCLES. FINE STANDARDS SET BY MEN & WOMEN. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, July 18. After travelling more than 50,000 miles by air and several more thousands of miles by rail and road, the Minister of Defence, Mr Jones, arrived in Auckland on Saturday from an official tour which has taken him to many countries and has enabled him toi meet almost all the Allied political and military leaders' Of extreme value also was the fact that he saw practically every unit of the 2nd N.Z.E.F. in the Middle East and Britain, all squadrons of the R.N.Z.A.F. in Britain and many members of the same service who are attached to other squadrons, many of the Royal New Zealand Navy's personnel who are o.verseas, and a good portion of the 2nd N.Z.E.F. in the Pacific. “Wherever I went, I found the New Zealanders exceptionally well,” said the Minister in an interview. “Nor did I find a keener lot of men than those who have gone from this country. 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 arc held is one of the domin- ■ ant- impressions of my tour. In both political and military circles, everyone' I met expressed great and most sincere praise cf the way in which our fighting forces have acquitted themselves." Mr Churchill could not praise them enough for the magnificent things they have done. President Roosevelt and his Chiefs of Staff, Admiral King and General Marshall, were equally complimentarv. Everyone gave exceptionally high praise to New Zealand’s war effort, and particularly to the work of its fighting forces. 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 Zealanders earned admiration as great fighters, but also are they well liked for themselves and for their conduct. • “The job our women are doing overseas is magnificent. I will never forget, for instance, how I found nurses right up near the front line in North Africa. They vied with each other to be with the troops and refused to be shifted or relieved.” Mr Jones said that on his first visit to the United States gratifying promises were made regarding the supply of aircraft to New Zealand and these promises were being redeemed. He found the greatest co-operation existing between the South and South-West Pacific commands. Speaking of the war in general, Mr Jones said his tour had given him the belief that victory was now sure so long as all the Allies and their peoples carried on with as much determination as in the past.