ALLIED WORKS COUNCIL

Grey River Argus, 18 February 1942, Page 5

ALLIED WORKS COUNCIL

In Australia MR. E. G. THEODORE l-N CONTROL. (Rec. 11.10). SYDNEY, Feb. 17. The Australian War Cabinet today has appointed Mr. E. G. Theodore, the former Commonwealth Treasurer, as Director-General of Allied Works Council. Mr. Theodore will have the right to allocate labour and materials for the jobs that he considers the most urgent, and he will be responsible to the Minister for his decisions. It was stated that considerable aid from other Allied countries was already reaching the Commonwealth. A representative of the Allied forces will work with Mr. Theodore. Mr. Theodore was Federal Treasurer in the former Scullin Government. LOSS OF MINERAL SUPPLY. HOME PRODUCTION PLAN. (Rec. 11.40). SYDNEY, Feb. 17. The Commonwealth Government has allocated half a million pounds to aid the production of minerals needed for the war. This decision arises from the enemy occupation of those countries which formerly supplied minerals to which Australia had ready access. OTHER MINERALS. MORE NEEDED THAN GOLD. (Rec. 1.50). SYDNEY, February 17. Commonwealth Ministers are talking of suspending gold mining operations. and using the mining plants for the production of more essential minerals.

Defence of Singapore WAS BRITAIN TOO HESITANT? A REPORTED WARNING (Rec. 8.35.) NEW YORK, Feb. 16. The noted American newspaper columnists. Messrs Pearson and Allen in their nationally-syndicated column, ' “Washington _ Merr yf°7 round,” to-night describe the redent meeting in Washington between Mr Churchill and the Australian Minister (Mr R. G. Casey.). It was during the British Premiers recent visit, and they discussed the defenc. of Singapore. The columnists allege that Mr Casey told Mr Churchill, point-blank, that Singapore “must be deiendea. and he warned that, otherwise, the Australian troops would be withdrawn from the Near East. Mr Casey, it is alleged, furthermore suggested that, if London deserted the Australians, by not defending Singapore, then Australia could withdraw from the war and make a separate peace with Germany. . ~ . Mr Churchill yielded to this threat. He sent reinforcements, which, however, arrived too late. The columnists predict that this incident will bring closer the ties between the Australian Commonwealth ard the United States. Mr Casey authorised the Australian Associated Press to say that the columnists’ allegations were entirely without foundation.