QUICK WORK BY MINISTER

New Zealand Listener, Volume 3, Issue 71, 1 November 1940, Page 5

QUICK WORK BY MINISTER

ECAUSE official duties tie him so B closely to his office in Wellington, the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, is not able to visit as many of the military establishments in the Dominion as he would wish, but when, on rare occasions, he is able to spare a little time to get away, he works swiftly. A round of visits during a recent weekend proves how speedily the Minister tours in the little time at his disposal.

He was scheduled’ to go to Auckland to inspect a special group of men of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Leaving Wellington by the Limited on Sunday evening, he reached Frankton Junction on Monday morning, journeyed from there to the camp at Ngaruawahia, went on to Papakura, then to Auckland, on to the Air Force station at Whenuapai and caught the train on Tuesday evening for Wellington. At Ngaruawahia Mr. Jones inspected the troops, including the Maori Reinforcements, who, he said, looked exceptionally well. Officers of the camp expressed to the Minister their pleasure at the high standard of the men who had gone into camp in the recent drafts.

Amenities at Papakura Mr. Jones was enthusiastic in’ his praise for Papakura Camp, which he describes as "splendid." Since his last visit there the theatre and the canteen have been completed, and the new garage and workshop is nearing completion. The vegetable garden, which has become such a feature of the camp, is in excellent order, and now that another area of land nearby has been leased, the garden and the supply of fresh vegetables will both be further increased. Smooth Organisation "The whole lay-out of Papakura Camp pleases me very much," the Minister stated. "It is the result of excellent work. Although the outbreak of measles delayed the entry of the Fourth Reinforcements, the organisation is such that the whole force was fitted out with equipment and clothing in nine days. There were no delays, so smoothly is everything arranged, and this means that several days are saved which would otherwise be lost while the men were being equipped." . From Papakura, Mr. Jones travelled to Auckland, where he inspected the Air Force unit. He described the men as a "fine, healthy and intelligent" force-all keen and enthusiastic. Then, in the afternoon, he motored out to the new Air Force station at Whenuapai and inspected the airdrome. A great deal of work has been done there since his last visit, and there is still much to do. One hangar has been completed, and a second is nearing completion. During his brief stay in Auckland, Mr. Jones paid a visit to the factory of the Colonial Ammunition Company, and he is loud in his praise of the important work which is being done there. "The whole of the staff and management have responded splendidly to the demands made upon them," said Mr. Jones. "The output reflects the greatest credit on everyone concerned, and I would like to congratulate the whole of the staff on the excellent work they are doing in the supply of ammunition." 4 : In recent months, the Minister of Defence has left his office only on rare occasions. On one of them he flew to Auckland at mid-day, fulfilled a number of important duties associated with his office, and flew back to Wellington the next morning.