VIGOROUS ACTION NEEDED

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 291, 13 November 1941, Page 8

VIGOROUS ACTION NEEDED

AUSTRALIA’S WAR EFFORT

CON SCR IPTION U RGED.

(Bee 2 p.m.) CANBERRA, Nov. lu. During the Budget debate m the House of Representatives Opposition .members Messrs Hank in, Bell, and Harrison, referred to conscri pt ion and said that more vigorous action would he necessary if Australia were to have a full war effort. , .Mr Rankin, who holds the rank ot major-general in the Australian Military Force, said the Australian home forces were still ill-equipped, ihe •V I F had the first claim on the output of Australian war supplies, but after the A.LF.’s wants had been tilled those of the Australian and New Zealand home forces should be considered before the claims of any othci country. Conscription ot Ml manpower was advocated by Mr Rankin, who said that, only i>y the conscription of every man and everything throughout the country, can we ever get a decent war effort. Mr bell said that every man who desired, to serve with the Forces, no matter what his occupation was, should be allowed to go to the war. About one-third of the call-up ot universal trainees had been exempted. 'Fhe list of reserved occupations was too big. „ ~ There was an uproar from the Government benches when Air Harrison said: “If this Government is prepared to bring in compulsory service, and is prepared to face up to the same obligations as the New Zealand Government, it will get results.