BUSH FIRES IN VICTORIA

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24152, 11 January 1944, Page 5

BUSH FIRES IN VICTORIA

STOCK AND PROPERTY BURNED MELBOURNE. Jan. 10. More than 40 houses, public hospitals. and hotels were destroyed during the week-end in one of the most serious outbreaks of bush fires in Victoria since 1939. Hundreds of miles of forests, grassland, and fencing have been destroyed and thousands of animals burned to death.

Only one man has been reported seriously injured.

RICHER AFTER WAR

BRITAIN’S PROSPECTS LONDON. Jan. 9. “The people in the United States do not talk like some of our leaders about being poorer after the war. They are more sensible than our professional pessimists,” said Sir William Beveridge, author of the Beveridge Social Security Plan, in a speech. "Just before this war we were, on the average, much richer than 25 years before, with the standard of living about 30 per cent, higher, in spite of the First World War and in spite of the decline in international trade and the mass unemployment which followed. The only experience we have had of war is that it does not leave us poorer.

“Why should we be poorer after this war? There will have been some material destruction but we shall have the same people with a great increase in capital and equipment and many new technical inventions. I hope that above all we shall have a new social invention enabling us to do without unemployment.”

Lithuanian President Dead.—Antanas Smetona, aged 69 years, exiled President pf Lithuania, was suffocated when a fire destroyed his son’s home, where he had lived since 1942.—Cleveland (Ohio), Jan. 10.

Governor of New South Wales.— The King has approved the extension of the term of office of Lord Wakehurst as Governor of New South Wales for a further period of 12 months.—Rugby, January 8.