AUSTRALIA’S GESTURE

Evening Star, Issue 26042, 5 March 1947, Page 7

AUSTRALIA’S GESTURE

GIFT OF £25,000,000 TD BRITAIN

RECOGNITION OF WAR EFFORT IN PACIFIC

(Rec, 12.5 p.m.) CANBERRA, March 5. The Federal caucus has agreed to Australia making a gift of £25,000,000 (Australian) to Britain from funds in London.

Mr Chifley announced that Cabinet had made the recommendation to the caucus as a contribution to Britain’s war effort in and around the Pacific. He said that at recent meetings Cabinet had given consideration to the various forms of assistance Australia could give Britain in her present economic situation. Australian balances in London from which the gift will be made are more than £200,000,000.

It is learned that the British Government favours the form of gift adopted.

Caucus members were told that it was impracticable to increase Australian food exports to Britain. Some members suggested that, as Australia owed money to Britain in some directions, the money should be applied to reducing that indebtedness.

The Country Party member, Sir Earl Page, last Friday gave notice of motion urging the Government to make a gift of £25,000,000 worth of food to Britain. Labour Party members are - complaining that he must have got wind of the Government’s intentions, and the motion is described as an attempt to steal the Government’s thunder.