Quick Work by the Minister of Defence

New Zealand Listener, Volume 2, Issue 30, 19 January 1940, Page 3

Quick Work by the Minister of Defence

The Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, paid his first visit to the Royal New Zealand Air Force School at New Plymouth last week. His official duties have been so heavy during the last few months that he has been unable to leave Wellington except for brief periods. Last week the Minister flew to Auckland to consult with the Mayor of Auckland and the mayors of towns in the Auckland Province on the recruiting campaign. On the way north his ’plane stopped at New Plymouth, and Mr. Jones was able to see the school both from the air and from the ground. "Nothing has pleased me more than to see the layout of the school and the work that is being done there," he said on his return. " The buildings, which have been erected in three months,

credit on those responsible for them. The accommodation, too, is excellent. Seen from the air, the school is a real picture." are very fine indeed, and reflect cont Mr. Jones hopes to have the opportunity of visiting stations and centres in the South Island very shortly, and proposes to pay a visit to several Southern cities and towns, where he will associate himself with the recruiting campaign. Some idea of the speed at which Mr. Jones travels can be gathered from the fact that he left Wellington at 11 o’clock one morning, lunched in New Plymouth and inspected the Air Force School there, went on to Auckland to attend meetings, and was back at work in his office in Parliament Buildings at 4 o'clock the following afternoon,