ALL RESOURCES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20860, 12 August 1942, Page 5

ALL RESOURCES

CONVERSION TO WAR AUSTRALIA WARNED MUST ACCEPT SHORTAGES (By Telegraph—Pre*a Assn. —Copyiight.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) (2.40 p.m.) SYDNEY, Aug. 13. Until Australia comes down to a stark sustinence level, the duty of the Government would be to devote to war purposes an ever-increasing amount of the remaining civil resources of the nation, the Prime Minister. Mr. J. Curtin, told the State Premiers at Melbourne. “Waste, excess luxury and even amenites must become less and less if Australia as a nation is to survive,” he declared. The. war programme would mean the acceptance of various shortages by Australia—sugar shortage and possibly a coal shortage. This would be caused primarily by transport difficulties. Australia would have to use for war purposes its internal lines oi communication in order to compensate for the increased lack of shipping.

All the portents were that Australia was engaged in a life-and-death struggle for survival. This was true for every United Nation. Each JnijNation had to share the perils of war and the resources available to meet the foe. Any adjustments to the original pans must be accepted without whining. The Premiers conferred in camera with General Sir Thomas Blarney, cornmander-in-chief of the Allied land forces, and the chiefs of the Australian fighting services. Australia is spending more than £1,000,000 a day on war, announced the Commonwealth Treasury. At the present rate. Australia will spend £376,000,000 on war this fiscal year, as compared with £319.000,000 last year. Next, year .the expenditure will be more than £400,000,000.