FULL WAR POWERS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 146, 21 June 1940, Page 7

FULL WAR POWERS

DEFEND AUSTRALIA.

"Great Challenge," Says Mr. Menzies. LABOUR PLEDGES SUPPORT. United Press Association. —Copyright. (Received 0.30 a.m.) CANBERRA, this day. The Prime Minister, Mr. Menzies, introduced in the House of Representatives a bill seeking extraordinary powers to mobilise persons, their services and their property for the defence of the Commonwealth and the efficient prosecution of the war. The bill does not provide for conscription for overseas service. The official Labour Opposition announced its preparedness to support the bill, but the group of seven Labour members led by Mr. J. A. Beasley declared they will oppose it. The. Prime Minister, in moving the second reading of the bill, said that under its provisions Australians would be called upon to do things which individually they would not have thought of two months ago. He added that a great hour like the present produced a great challenge, and he had not the slightest doubt what the response would be. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Curtin, in pledging Labour's support, said the bulk of the Labour movement was convinced that the Government was composed of men with a proper sense of their responsibilities to the people. Mr. Beasley, in opposing the bill, stated that, in his opinion, it was tantamount to industrial conscription. Mr. Menzies expressed the hope that the bill would be passed before midnight. The House of Representatives, by 59 votes to 10, has passed an Emergency Powers Bill, says a later cable. The Senate is to deal with the bill to-day.