DEFENCE BILL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 254, 27 October 1938, Page 20

DEFENCE BILL.

MORE MILLIONS. NEW AUSTRALIAN PLANS. ALL STATES CO-OPERATING. (From our (Hvn f'nrrespnnTont.) SVDNF.V. October 21. The foroenst a fortnight ago bv the "Star's" correspondent. that if any change wore tiiailo in Australia's defence pnigramme. as the result of the C/.oeh crisis, it, would be in the direction of incroasing expenditure lias already come I rue. The expenditure will include the following projects; l)e\olopment of munition factories; construction of a, military road from Cairns. North Queensland, to \lhury on the border between New South Wales and Victoria: construction of numerous strategic, rriads loading to ports; extensive improvements to all ports; now nnd improved airports; dupboat ons of sonic railway lines; st.rengthonmtr of railway tracks, widening of tunnels and strong! honing and building of key bridges. Among the railway projects if» mind are alternative lines from the Riverinn to the North, the Ha .vkesbury River Bridge route being considered vulnerable hy defenco exports. Tim Commonwealth <iovernment, however, it. is understood, will not sponsor any plan for the nnifi cation of railway guuges. It Is argued that when troops have to be moved considerable distances, they havo to bo rested in any case, and these rests might, as well be given at the point? whero there are changes in the gauge. The Federal Labour party, however, through the Opposition Lender, Mr. Curtin, urges unification of railway gauges nt its own i:i point dcfenco plan. Included among those in points are an increase in aeroplane strength from 108 to '207 machines, and the retirement of Irom 12 to 15 oUlcers holding high army commands to make room for younger men. That the Common wraith Government has in mind an unprecedented national effort, t'or defence is indicated by further statement* by Sir Earlo Page, and by the Invitation extended to Mr. Curtin to join in tho Council's deliberations. Sir ICa rlci Page now says that the Federal ' Cabinet envisages co-operation between all the State* and tho Commonwealth in tho combined defence-public works programme for from seven to 10 years. Ffe has also emphasised that th« Commonwealth has in mind a sur vey of industrial resources with a view to increased migration to build up the population of Australia, nnd also to the establishment of now industries in country centres instead of concentrating everything in Sydney and Melbourne and thus providing a compact target for a possible invader. It is now plain From the obviously inspired statements that have appeared regarding the rcintroduction of conscription for homo defenoc, and which have not been officially contradicted, that the Federal Government also has this in mind as a likely step. It is certain that any proposal to impose conscription for service overseas would be fiercely opposed, but tho Prime Minister, Mr. Lyons, has repeatedly stated that lie has no constitutional power to do this, ami if universal training were proposed purely for honii defenco, it is unlikely in face of the uncertain world position that there would bo very serious opposition to if. The chief reason which appears to be holding back the Federal Cabinet from coming out for universal training at it time when public opinion Is as ro-ady for it as it is ever likely to lw\ Is that enough equipment could not be ( got. together for some, time to train many mora thousand soldiers. Shelving Amenity Works. To finance this , new defence programme the Commonweal! h l»o\ eminent is asking the State (Governments to postpone ninny of Miei- projected amen it.v public woiUs. -ii.'ti as Hniiidnrv road ■<. g baths and parks, anil to -witch a 4 nm> I' as 11,,. ■, , | | H . loan mono\ .iil<.ilci! to lliem to road-. lIIIIW II v a nil ol In I \\ | s - ~l" dcfcll, e * a I no. ' I'ho propose.l loan nil,,, :l | 1,, t li<*st at cs for t lie •in i eni \ o,i i i, j. | J Dilii.niiu conipaurd wi'li c I nun in,i) | ;l ,| \,ai. Led by the Ni w >iVh |i Wales Premier. Mr "-towns, yuoonsland. N'ew South Wale- Victoria and las manias had,intended to put up a stiff tight at/thniLoan < nuncib for more lib- ■ ra I 's Ifocatronw bv' the Commonwealth ■ i,iiik Board. They will now probahly '. r"c to# shelvfi' many, of tho developmental- work** bad planned.