AUSTRALIA

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 August 1942, Page 5

AUSTRALIA

COMPULSORY UNIONISM

MELBOURNE, August 14. The Federal Parliamentary Opposition executive has endorsed a declaration by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Fadden) that any move in Australia must be strenuously opposed. The Australian Council of Trades Unions has asked the Prime Minister (Mr Curtin) to introduce compulsory unionism by regulation. The Opposition executive expressed the view that because of the vital importance of the question to the everincreasing body of Australians forced into industry to meet wartime demands, the Government should openly indicate its views on the subject. It is claimed that any action by tne Government to force people to become members of a particular trades union would be nothing more than a party move which would not further the nation’s war effort in any way.

CARGO PILLAGING

MELBOURNE, August 13

The formation of special squads of civil police at all ports to check the looting and pillaging of cargoes on the wharves has been approved by the Federal Cabinet. The squads will be formed of specially-selected officers of the State Police Forces. The Cabinet’s action has followed the consideration of a report which disclosed an alarming state of affairs regarding pillaging.

BEEF SHORTAGE

SYDNEY, August 14

Australian greyhounds may have to sacrifice their beef ration for the war effort. The beef supplies must be carefully distributed to ensure adequate meat lor tinning for the Aliled forces in Australia. The racing greyhound, for his size, is the most voracious beef eater in the Commonwealth. according io a Commerce Department report. Because of the shortage of beef and surplus of mutton the Minister of Commerce, Mr Scully, is appealing to Australians to “eat mutton for victory.” Regulations to conserve the beef supplies will be issued, if this appeal does not have the desired effect. The feeding of beef to dogs will be banned. Beef, tinned and in concentrated form for iron rations, is the staple diet of the fighting forces, particularly the Americans, who have been unable to cultivate a palate for mutton.

RURAL INDUSTRIES

MELBOURNE, August 12

The Federal Government preferred to sacrifice rural industries if it was necessary to keep Australia free, said the Federal Treasurer (Mr. Chiffly) replying at the State Premiers’ Conference to complaints about the difficulty of maintaining farms without more labour. If Australia held, industry could again be established no matter how long rehabilitation might take. The Government had to choose between making vitally important equipment or maintaining rural industries until such time as the country was overrun by the enemy. SOCIALDISEASE MELBOURNE, August 12. The State Premiers’ Conference today agreed to give immediate consideration to a proposal by the Commonwealth Government for gazetting a regulation providing for power to detain and examine persons suspected of being sources of infection of social disease. A report by the Minister of Health (Mr. Holloway), stated that there was considerable evidence that normal social and moral standards were being seriously affected by war conditions, especially in large towns. There was definite evidence that the amount of venereal disease was increasing. It was proposed by regulation that if a suspected person fails to present himself at the time and place specified the Chief Health Officer may authorise the police to arrest him for examination. Any person found suffering from venereal disease may be detained in an approved institution.

COAL PRODUCTION. (N.Z.P.A. Special Australian Correspondent). SYDNEY, August 13. . No coal stoppages have occurred in the New South Wales mines this week, thus ensuring the highest weekly output for the year. It was forecast in coal circles to-day that if the present rate of production continued all output records would be shattered this year, in spite of the serious stoppages during the first six months. The biggest problem now is transport