MANY TRIBUTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 July 1943, Page 2

MANY TRIBUTES

PAID TO NEW ZEALAND TROOPS. DEFENCE MINISTER’S ACCOUNT OF RECENT TOUR. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. _ Personalities he had met during his recent official mission abroad and their high regard for- New Zealand’s war effort were referred to by the Minister of Defence, Mr Jones, in an address last night. One famous general he had met in Great Britain, said Mr Jones, had stated that the New Zealand Division was the best the world had ever seen. Mr Jones said the highlight of his tour was when he saw the fighting men of the New Zealand Division in Tunisia. They had then been fighting continuously for almost ten months, and though they had been through some hard battles they were wonderfully cheery. Everywhere he went he heard nothing but glowing tributes to the Division. Referring to the Empire Air Training Scheme, Mr Jones said that one pleasing feature was the splendid accommodation provided for the men at all the stations he inspected in Canada. He was also impressed with the facilities for the men to enjoy their leisure hours. The apparatus for teaching the young airmen was the best he had seen during his travels. Mi’ Jones said he met Mr Winston Churchill, and his last words to him were, “Your country has played a great part; it has never put a foot wrong.” He also had audiences with the King and Queen, and both had made appreciative references to this country’s war effort and sent their best wishes to the people of New Zealand. “The people in this country and on the side of the Allies had reason to be heartened by the victories of the past year,” aid Mr Jones. “Let us not slacken our efforts till final victory is achieved.”