ALL RESOURCES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20275, 17 June 1940, Page 6

ALL RESOURCES

AUSTRALIA’S PLAN BIG WAR EFFORT EMERGENCY POWERS HOME DEFENCE FORCE (K 1 Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. June 17, 11 a.m.) MELBOURNE, June 17. The Prime Minister, Mr. R. G. Menzies, announced that an emergency meeting of the Federal Parliament would be held on Thursday to deal with a bill to give the Government wide emergency powers to use every available resource, both man-power and industry. Parliament’s meeting will last, only two days. In a broadcast last night Mr. Menzies stated that a home defence force of 250,000 would be formed in Australia. This would be achieved by an extension of militia training. "The Government,” he declared, “will make it possible for those unable at present to undergo military training owing to responsibilities to do a three months’ course of militia training for home defence. “Parliament on Thursday will consider legislation similar to the National Security Acts in Britain and New Zealand. It will give the Government complete power over the people, services, property, and manpower, except conscription for service abroad. However, the powers will be so wide that the Government will have power to conscript men within 48 hours for home defence.” Financial Burden The Government, he pointed out, would take power to impose whatever taxation was necessary to supplement the war effort, and would go to the length almost of financial collapse as it considered financial collapse preferable to national destruction. It would take power to tell employers and employees what to do in the national effort. Mr. Menzies concluded that the Government would welcome the fullest co-operation of everyone, especially trade unions, iru its endeavours. Two van-loads of Communist documents and literature were seized by Melbourne police who raided the offices of the Communist Party and League for Peace and Democracy, and the homes of 60 known Communists on Saturday. No arrests were made. This action was taken after the Cabinet had decided on Saturday to totally ban the operations of these organisations.