HUGE WORKS ARMY

Grey River Argus, 22 May 1942, Page 5

HUGE WORKS ARMY

30,000 MEN

Being Mobilised in Australia

[Aust. & N.Z. Cable Aisn.l (Rec. 10.50) SYDNEY, May 21. Thirty thousand men will be mobilised within the next four months in Australia’s new War Works Army, which is called the Civilian Construction Corps. Thousands of workers already are serving with the corps in all parts ol Australia. Most of the new draft will be called up compulsorily, from men in the forty-five to fifty-five years of age group, but it is announced that suitable volunteers between the ages ot thirty and sixty will be also acC °Under the direction of the Allied Works Council, the Corps is building aerodromes, rpadjs, rajfiways, dock?, dams stores, and munition factories The combined Federal and States public works programme has even attempted the same vast amount ot construction which is controlled by the Council. , . Mr. E. G. Theodore, former Federal Prime Minister, is the DirectorGeneral. The Council allots vital construction jobs in the Older oi their priority to the Works authorities and to private contractors plants and organisations have been co-opted fin the scheme of ilabour from P the Civilian Construction Corps as well as plant and materials provided by the Council. A census of constructions plant ha a been made throughout Australia. The plant is being called up as . ouired The members of the Coips will be paid the award rates. Payment is being made for wet weathe and similar interruptions The mm will receive one weeks leave, p.u» travelling time to their homes, in each year of service. They also will be entitled to nine P u £ llc nn hol lE each year, whilst work on to - days will be paid for at penaky greater part of the. Corps will be labourers, who will be enrobed from all occupations. The trader men such as carpenters and plumb ™ wifi be paid the award rates for the work done in their own trade.?. Mr Theodore has the power both to enrol volunteers, and to direcmen compulsorily to serve in u_Coros Men between the ages of lb and P 6o are affected, with the exceP; tion of the members of the arms., forces and persons engaged in tnprotected industries. Compulsory enSent for the Corps, however mil be made in age groups, not inter fering with Army requirements. Any volunteers who appear to m draft-dodgers will be released to the Men from all occupations are being taken. Publicans, salesmen, accountants, jewellers, grocers, are among those already serving. Ine members of the Corps working <• their homes are. permitted to five at their homes. Wnere their job. are away from their homes, thcv will live in camps. . Sleeping accommodation and messing facilities a.P r °^ ed ma rried members of the Corps are required to make a minimum allotment of three pounds p.,. week to their wives. An addition a. allotment for their children is voluntary, because the members of the Corps are being drawn from ail walks of life. Many have commitments that they are unable to mee„ from their Corps service pay. m their case the possibility of a moratorium along the lines of that granted to the fighting services is being considered. Where the Corps ha., taken over the entire staffs ana plants of big contracting firms, or where the Public Works authorities have been absorbed, the men j>mploved are seconded back to then, employers, while still remaining members of the Construction Corps. Mr Theodore has the power to authorise the issue of uniforms lor the corps, but, because of supply difficulties, it is unlikelv that the Corps will be uniformed. The men are under civil discipline, but they may not leave the Corps for the duration of the war.

Clothes Rationing

RELIEF FOR UNEMPLOYMENT CAUSED (Rec. 1.15) CANBERRA, May 21. The Prime Minister’ (Mr Curtin 1 announced that the Federal Government intends to provide temporary financial assistance to persons who lose their employment owing to the clothes rationing. Assistance will not begin until a person concerned has been unemployed fourteen days, and the maximum period of aid would be three months.