MEN IN SERVICES

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 41, 18 February 1943, Page 6

MEN IN SERVICES

AUSTRALIA'S ; RECORD

All-Over Figure Reported To Be 700,000

N.Z. Press " Association. —Copyright Rec. 2.30 p.m, CANBERRA, this day. "The all-over figure for. Australia's three armed' Services exceeds 700,000. This is equivalent ;to 4,250,000 under arms in Great Britain, ,13,250,000 in the United States, : and. 1,100,000 in Canada." These facts were given by the Government .leader in the Seriate,. Senator. Collings, replying to criticism of the Militiapili; which is still, under consideration by that body. :; Senator Collings added that the strength of Australia's land forces had been nearly trebled since" Japan entered the war. Nearly 500,000 had', been diverted from civilian production to the Services or direct to war work, while, since the outbreak of war, the number of employees in Government munition factories, including aircraft and shipbuilding plants, had increased by 800 per cent. The number of workers producing goods for the civil market had been reduced by 64 per cent. Vital Opposition Amendment The leader Of the Senate Opposition, Senator McLeay, has announced that he will move a vital amendment to the Bill in the committee stages. The amendment will provide for an extension of the area of service beyond the limits set out in the Government's . Bill. Political observers : believe the voting on the amendment will be equal, eighteen all, making the amendment unacceptable and securing the passage of the most disputed measure in the history of the present Federal Parliament.