In the Event of Emergency

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 85, 12 April 1939, Page 5

In the Event of Emergency

MOBILISING AUSTRALIA'S RESOURCES SYDNEY, March 31. Planning in Australia for national emergency was described in detail by the late Prime Minister, Mr. Lyons, at the conclusion of a Federal Cabinet meeting this week. He said: “It is rapidly approaching a stage which will enable the Government to envisage a eompleto scheme of defence and industrial and civil mobilisation in the event of war.”

Tho survey of industry, particularly engineering, with a view to wartime co-ordination, had reached an advanced stage, Mr. Lyons added. Special committees were alroady dealing with supplies and with industries which produced fuel and lubricating oils, woollen and worsted toxtiles, jute, acids, foodstuffs and boots.

Information of great value to national planning was being received as a result of a questionnaire to manufacturers. Associated with the survey of industry was the plan for the establishment of annexes, or “shadow” factories. This was an important cooperative effort by Stare Governments, industrial companies and firms, to assist in. meeting some of the estimated war wastage requirements of the services.

Among the sub-committees engaged upon the national plan were those dealing with oversea export and land transport, economics and finance regulation, control of primary production, costing and profit control for the production of munitions by private industry in an emergency, tho allotment of man-power and tho organisation of woman’s voluntary effort in an emergency.