AUSTRALIA’S INDUSTRIES

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 December 1945, Page 5

AUSTRALIA’S INDUSTRIES

POST-WAR DEFENCE PLANS

TRANSFERS FROM BRITAIN CANBERRA, December 21. The transfer to Australia of British people and production units in the shipbuilding, aircraft, and other industries is planned as part of Australia’s post-war defence policy. This is one principle adopted by the War Cabinet and announced to-day by the Prime Minister (Mr. Chifley). The proposals, were made to Britain during the war, but because of the acute supply position it was not possible to develop them. Australia was told then that any scheme for the affiliation of Australian production capacity with British manufacturing resources was a matter of post-war policy. The guidjng principles of post-war defence will be as follows:— Naval power: provision for the maintenance of adequate manpower and standard of strength, and the provision of naval bases and facilities for repair and fuel. Air: the uniform development of air forces, creation and maintenance of air bases and fuelling stations, and Air Force interchanges of personnel and units. Munitions: the development of the Empire resources to avoid as far as possible over-concentration of resources for manufacture and supply in any area specially liable to attack, the development of manufacturing self-sufficiency, and arrangements for combining manufacturing. facilities between parts of the Empire. Aircraft and engines produced in Australian should be suitable not only for the defence of Australia, but also for the defence of all British countries.

DIPHTHERIA INCREASE.. SYDNEY, December 21. Diphtheria cases have increased in Sydney in the last few weeks, and to-day the metropolitan health officer (Dr. G. Drew) gave a warning of an epidemic next year. “It will rage among our children like a forest fire,” said Dr. Drew. Other doctors said they regarded the situation as most serious. Fiftyfour cases of diphtheria have been taken to hospital this month and one case has been fatal. The year’s total is about 600 cases.