AUSTRALIAN MANPOWER LITIGATION

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 206, 29 May 1944, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN MANPOWER LITIGATION

SYDNEY. May 27.

The Commonwealth may face claims for damages if the New South Wales Full Court’s invalidation of the manpower regulations is upheld, says a constitutional lawyer. People who have been convicted under the regulations and jailed will be able to sue the Commonwealth and others will at least be entitled to a refund of the fines paid and a setting aside of convictions. The Commonwealth’s appeal against the State Court’s ruling will be heard late next week. The Acting Prime Minister, Mr. Forde, said the Commonwealth Government would be placed in serious difficulties if manpower control were relaxed at this period of the war. The Government could not permit the production of food or munitions for the Allied forces in the Pacific and food for Great Britain to decline. 'The number of persons who had been directed to work in various industries were: Rural 1100, munitions 1200, food and clothing 1600, hospitals 800, miscellaneous supply factories 700.