FUTURE OF PACIFIC

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 October 1943, Page 5

FUTURE OF PACIFIC

DR. EVATT’S REVIEW COLLABORATION NEEDS CANBERRA, October 14. Dr. Evatt, in the House of Representatives To-day/ when reporting on his mission abroad said: The handling of the problems of security, postwar development, and native welfare call for courage and vision, and, as members of the British Commonwealth of Nations in the Westein Pacific, New Zealand, and Australia are destined to discharge heavy responsibilities. “To-day their joint power is very great, it should remain commensurate" with their new responsibilities. 1 regard permanent collaboration betwen New Zealand and Australia as being pivorai to a sound post-war Pacific policy--.' He referred to Mr Churefill I s Pt'?’ posal for the establishment, within the framework of a world organisation, of a system of subordinate regional councils. Dr. Evatt said that he visualised Nev/ Guinea as an integral part of the Pacific zone with which Australia would be .vitally interested, in'collaboration with Britain and New Zealand on the one hand, and with the Dutch, the French and the Portuguese on the other hand. “The Commonwealth Government is convinced that, in order to prevent future aggression, measures should be concerted for the permanent defence of this area as one of the zones of security within the international system that must be created. The Commonwealth contemplates a general understanding covering commercial matters, transport, and general reconstruction in the post-war world. . . Dr. Evatt disclosed that additional Spitfires and American combat planes in substantial force had been allocated to the South-west Pacific. The Spitfires were of the latest type. They would be manned by British personnel. Dr. Evatt said that the relationship between New Zealand and Australia had been made closer by the appointment of the distinguished New Zealander, Mr Berendsen, as High Commissioner for New Zealand. The Australian Government at an early date will make a 1 reciprocal appointment to Wellington.

SYDNEY PRESS VIEWS (N.Z.P.A. Special Australian Correspondent) SYDNEY, October 15. Commentators here unanimously point out that Asia must remain a great question mark over the future of Australia and New Zealand. The “Sydney Sun” comments: “What happens in Asia, the crowded house of a half-human race, is, as this war has shown us, suddenly and enormously capable of altering our customs and way of life. The United States has awakened to the vital nature of foreign policy in the Pacific, and is already planning her future defence. We must do the same. We cannot live apart from the gales that shake the world. In the past, because of the protection of the British Navy and the unquestioned status of the white man in acquiescent Asia, we were indeed in that happy position, but two world wars have altered the world in economics, psychology, and balance of power, and rapid communication has completed the transformation. Our old isolationism is futile. The claims of Pacific security in the future will not be met by anything short of our full participation in measures taken to assure that henceforth this great ocean shall be true to its noble name.”

Giving a warning that in another Pacific war, Australia and New Zealand would be battle grounds, the “Daily Telegraph” urges co-operation to lift 1,000,060,000 Asiatic people out of poverty and enslavement. “No Imperialist machine can indefinitely hold down and humiliate such a vast concourse,” says the newspaper. Tribute is paid to Dr. Eva It’s speech, which the “Telegraph” calls “a notable contribution to the adult outlook of this country.”

COAL INDUSTRY

CANBERRA, October 14.

“A minority of malcontents and irresponsibles are to bo weeded out of the Australian coal mining industry," said the Prime Minister, Mr. Curtin, in announcing drastic restrictions upon the consumption of coal. The railways are to have I heir consumption cut to twenty-six per coni. Industrial, users will be cut twelve and a-fialf per cent. A toclmieal committee is being appointed to advise on methods for restricting the consumption of coal for generating gas and electricity. External lighting will also/he restricted. The regulations provide that every miner absenting himself from work, without legal excuse, and every mine' manager who is responsible . for breaches of the existing regulations will be prosecuted. Revealing that there lias been a loss this year of two and a-liulf million tons of coal, Mr. Curtin said that inquiries showed that the removal of the malcontents would go a long way towards maintaining increased coal consumption. The losses in production of coal this year up to September 18 last were as follows: Loss caused by absenteeism.—One million tons. Loss due to strikes.—One million tons. Loss due to other industrial causes.— A hundred and twenty-five thousand tons. Loss by mechanical breakdowns. —A hundred and forty thousand tons. Loss by miscellaneous cause.—A hundred and sixty thousand tons. Other Government moves to step up coal production will be to mechanise the mines as rapidly as the procurement of the equipment will permit, and the transfer of about six hundred workers to the mines from the services or from other industries. COMMONWELATH POWERS. "CANBERRA. October 15. Unless Australian States grant by next session additional powers to the Commonwealth Government for postwar reconstruction, an appeal will be made to the people by referendum. This ultimatum has been delivered in the House of Representatives by the Prime Minister (Mr. Curtin). After pointing out that only New South Wales and Queensland had passed the draft Powers Bill agreed upon at the Canberra constitutional convention, the Prime Minister said: “The matter cannot be allowed to rest where it is.” South Australia and Western Australia have passed Bills, but in both cases the powers granted are less than those agreed upon. Victoria passed the Bill but imposed a condition that it should not operate unless the other five States had passed the same Bill. The Tasmanian Upper House shelved the Bill.