Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1939. AUSTRALIA’S EFFORT.

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 November 1939, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1939. AUSTRALIA’S EFFORT.

SN the hour of the Empire’s need, it is now being more than ever demonstrated that “Australia will be there.” The announcement made by Air. Menzies, that the expenditure allocated under the heading of defence for the current year 'is estimated at no less than £591,500,000, fully justifies his description of the total involved as “staggering.” The truth of this is more clearly appreciated when it is recalled that expenditure for similar purposes during the initial year of the last war was the comparatively small sum of £19,600,000. It is also interesting to know that, of nearly sixty millions, less than eight of them will bfe spent outside the Commonwealth, a statement which points eloquently to the advances made in Australian manufacturing resources. The comprehensive programme includes the construction of destroyers and other naval units, the arming of merchant vessels.. the erection of munition and

armament factories, a great ex-

pansion in aircraft construction, and other associated activities, the whole forming an undertaking of which Australians generally may well be proud. No time was lost in offering to send overseas an Air Force contingent, but decision on this point awaits the result of the conference in Canada. Meanwhile, at the request of Britain, large-scale manufacture of aeroplane engines will be continued, while nine flying-boats, ordered for Australian services, will be allowed to remain in England, the Commonwealth providing the personnel for an Australian reconnaisance squadron. There is no doubt that these men will uphold the traditions established by fel-

low-“ Aussies” in the Great War. It has been reported that the allocation of war contracts has led to a revival of the long-standing jealousy between Melbourne, Canberra, and Sydney, it being contended that the first-named, as a result of the War Cabinet making its headquarters there, is receiving preferential treatment. The Prime Minister has quoted figures in rebuttal, but it is ( questionable whether he need have taken the trouble to regard the matter seriously, in view of well-known propensity of the various States for enjoying a tilt at each other. A real emergency would mean immediate unity. So far as actual fighting is concerned, the Australians (with the New Zealanders) established an imperishable record in the Great War, and it is the intention, if circumstances render it necessary, to despatch an expeditionary force of volunteers from the Commonwealth to the aid of the Allies, on this occasion. The response by recruits has been so satisfactory that some of the States have already filled their quotas. Although the force for overseas service is to be composed of volunteers, the Federal Government has reintroduced compulsory training, in order to make sure that the militia will be maintained at the required strength of 75,000 men. In this

connection, the authorities on the other side of the Tasman have shown more foresight than those in New Zealand have so far exhibited. Australia has followed the lead of Britain, by adopting the compulsory principle, and opinion in many quarters in this Dominion is becoming convinced that such a policy is the only fair method of ensuring the maintenance of an adequate force for national defence purposes. The voluntary system is admirable in many ways, but its effect is generally to place an excessive load upon the willing horse. Developments in the situation overseas may yet compel the New Zealand Government to revise its present attitude in regard to the utilisation of the country’s manpower. Further evidence of the determined manner in which Australia is facing her war responsibilities is given by the action of the Federal Government in enacting new national security regulations conferring the power to commandeer any factories for use by the State, to declare any goods or commodities as being essential for national purposes, and to ensure that defence orders receive priority. The term, “Empire arsenal,” has more than once recently been applied to Australia, and it is reported that tremendous progress in munition and armament production -has made her practically independent of outside sources. All these activities must be paid for by heavy taxation, of course, but, recognising the vital issues involved, Australia will still be there, financially.