CHALLENGING HOUR

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 146, 21 June 1940, Page 7

CHALLENGING HOUR

AUSTRALIA'S ANSWER

MOBILISATION

ATTITUDE OF LABOUR

(By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright.) (Received June 21, 8 a.m.) CANBERRA, This Day. The Prime Minister, Mr. R. G. Menzies, yesterday 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 official Labour Party announced that it was prepared to support the Bill but the Beasley group of seven Labour members declared that they would 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 individually that 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. J. Curtin, in pledging the official Labour Party's support, said that 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. J. A. Beasley, head of the Australian Labour Party (non-Communist) opposed the Bill. He expressed the view that it was tantamount to industrial conscription.

A Sydney message states that the New South W € ales Cabinet has decided to curtail horse and greyhound racing for the duration of the war. A subcommittee of Cabinet will confer with delegates from the race clubs on the subject.

It is reported from Melbourne that the Commonwealth Government has ordered the erection of a second explosives and filling plant, which will duplicate the operations of the Victorian plant.

The factory will cost several million pounds and will give employment to thousands of men and women.

The House passed the Bill by 59 votes to 10, and the Senate will deal with it today. v