CANADA’S MANPOWER

Grey River Argus, 18 June 1942, Page 3

CANADA’S MANPOWER

RESERVES FAST LESSENING.

CONSCRIPTION QUESTION.

• OTTAWA, June 16. Hon. Mr. Howe, speaking in a debate in the Canadian House of Commons, said he deplored unfavourable publicity which Canada has received abroad, and notably in the United States, regarding the question or conscription of men for service ove seas. He said: “I have never seen unfair criticism of Australia s war effort. Australia has made a splendid effort on the voluntary system. He added that he had never met any Australian who was not P pared to praise his countrys war e - fort. Mr. Howe stated that the attitude of the Australians themse ves and of their press was responsible for good Australian Mr. Howe said he supported 'the Govern ment’s demand for P ow fnn<;rrinfpd abroad men who were conscr pted, but he expressed the would be unwise at present to draw from war production unless wa situation deteriorated. The Minister declared- “Canada’s manpower reserves are rapidly lessening, with over half a million men m the armed forces and eight hundred thousand men knd women making munitions Msa another three hundred thousand wo?kffig in the essential utilities and mining, and one million three hundred and fifty thousand are in agriculture.

CANADA’S WAR OUTLAY (Rec. 8.50) OTTAWA, June 16. The Minister of Defence, Mr Ralston, in a speech said: Canadas war expenditure totals now three times the total expended in the whole of the. last war and in the demobilisation period. Canada has one hundred and forty thousand troops in Britain. They have been a factor deterrent to an invasion o 1 Britain. Now they are calling for action and their time will come. The Canadian total of casualties in the three services is five thousand six hundred, compared with- ninetvtive thousand casualties at this time in the last war. There are more than 45,000 young men volunteers in service to-day.