COST OF WAR

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 18, 22 January 1944, Page 7

COST OF WAR

AUSTRALIAN REVIEW

THE DRAIN ON MAN-POWER O.C. SYDNEY, January 18. How Australia became fully-geared for war after Japan entered the war f two years ago is disclosed by figures issued by the Department of Information. Enlistments in the Services rose from 435,000 (including 3600 women) to 913,000, with 47,900 women. Men and women in direct war work increased from 247,000 to 640,000. War expenditure rose from £203,000,000 to £586,000,000 a year, and public loans, from £113,000,000 to £396,000,000 a year. • The cost of 32,371 pensions to servicemen of this war and their dependents is £1,455,208 a year. To the end of November the war had cost Australia * £1,339,000,000—an average of £186 per person, or £864,000 for each day of hostilities. This was more than five times the total cost of the last Workers in civil production decreased from 504,000 to 197,000, the value of buildings erected fell from £6 600,000 to £1,100,000 a year, menj clothing was cut by 40 per cent, and consumption of butter, sugar, and tea was reduced by rationing. _ i In September last Australian manpower (males 14 years and over) totalled 2,830,000, of Whom 1,181,000 were in the Forces or direct war work. The demands for more man-power in 1944 are nearly three times greater than the extra numbers likely to become available. To avoid excessive regimentation, the Government decided to re-allocate man-power, but many of its decisions have been kept secret for the present. With 20 per cent, less man-power, ! pastoralists and farmers are handling 13 557 000 more sheep, 1,143,000 more cattle, and 407,000 more pigs than beThe summary shows that total Australian casualties from the outbreak of war in 1939 to November 30 1943, were 65.144, comprising Army 43,994, Air Force 7764, and Navy 2386. Of the total, 15,709 were killed in action, died from wounds, sickness, or other causes, 16,792 were wounded. 26,438 were prisoners of war, and 6205 were mSinci" the outbreak of war 1229 traders have been convicted for prices breaches and 46 firms declared.