AUSTRALIA & WAR

Grey River Argus, 25 March 1943, Page 3

AUSTRALIA & WAR

SYDNEY, March 20. To-daj r almost seven out of every ten of Australia’s working population (five millions in a total population of seven millions) are employed in support of the war effort—in the fighting forces, industry and. essential civilian services. The impact of the tremendous change-over from the normal peace-time production economy is now being increasingly felt. Primary producers are warning that the approaching winter will see the Commonwealth faced with some food shortages. Additional manpower is admitted to be a solution of this problem, but Mr Curtin is adamant in resisting pressure to release servicemen for primary production. “When the alternative is men to fight or a shortage of some foods,” he said, “we must tighten our belts.”

While by no means free of industrial troubles (including absenteeism and stoppages), these were reduced in 1942 to almost one-third their 1941 proportions. This compares very favourably with the figures of Britain and the United States.

Criticism against Mr Curtin's Labour Government (which is in office only with the support of two Independent members and lacks a Senate majority) has been based on the the threat of financial inflation. The handling of industrial disputes and pre-war cost of living in Australia has been increased more than 22 per cent., against 13 per cent, reported for New Zealand.

Mr Curtin, succeeding Mr Menzies, and Mr Fadden as Australia’s third wartime Prime Minister, enjoys personally the wholehearted support of all interests. While there has been agitation for a National Government, so far few have disputed that Mr Curtin is the Australian best fitted to lead such a .Government. Most Canbe'rra ,political correspondents believe Mr Curtin’s personal popularity will .carry the day for Labour if an election is held at this juncture—although many believe Labour’s popularity is waning. The war has made Australians increasingly conscious of the need tor developing overseas relationships. New Zealand affairs have recently been much more prominent in the news than was the case even six months ago. Australia, faced vwith ; post-war social, rehabilitation anid housing problems, is striving to learn from New Zealand’s experience in these matters. While all the emphasis here is still on winning the war the shape of things to come after the war is being increasingly discussed and a department under the control of the Federal Treasurer (Mr Chifley) is already working on post-war reconstruction problems.