AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Grey River Argus, 20 June 1945, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

POLICE TO BE RELEASED FROM FORCES. CANBERRA, June 19. Ail .policemen serving in the Australian armed forces are to be released, Cabinet has decided. This action has been taken so that all States will be able to build up their anti-pillaging organisations. More than 100 police from New South Wales alone are serving in the A.I.F. and R.A.A.F. Another measure to prevent pillaging recommended to Cabinet is that Army provost convoys should escort goods for troops from factory to wharf. The Acting-Prime Minister (Mr Chifley) is expected to make a statement on. the Government’s anti-pillaging plans in the House this week.

BIGGER WHEAT CROP. CANBERRA, June 19. An early conservative estimate by the Commerce Department of Australia’s 1945-46 wheat crop is 100 million bushels, or double the 1944-45 production. A large increase has been made in the area sown in wheat this year, but supplementary spring rains will be necessarj; to ensure a good harvest. A crop of 100 million bushels would prevent a wheat shortage within Australia, but. would leave little margin for export. LABOUR PARTY SYDNEY, June 19 A Sydney “Daily Telegraph" political correspondent - stated: The Australian Labour Party faces a crisis within its own ranks. Industrial militants have captured all the key unions and have fought the political wing of the Party, proving to the rank and file that direct action does pay. The Australian Council of Trades Unions’ success of an all-Red ticket at the election last week and the Congress programme of immediate demands have perturbed Federal Cabinet moderates. Demands which the Government could sidestep while its friends controlled the A.C.T.U. are now likely to be forced home because Cabinet’s enemies within the Labour movement control the head.quarters df unionism. Demands which the Government must retuse if it is to retain the swinging vote which placed it in office include: Compulsorj' unionism b.y regulation; destruction of the present Arbitration Court machinery; a guaranteed yearly wage for all workers without any pledge against strikes b.y unions; the fixing of the basic wage by regulation, thus overriding the Arbitration Court. Ministers fear wrangling that will follow the refusal of most of these demands and will lose Labour thousands of swinging votes at next election.”