Australia to Release 50,000 Men for Food Front

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 221, 17 September 1943, Page 5

Australia to Release 50,000 Men for Food Front

Received Thursday, 7.5 p.m. SYDNEY, Sept. 16. The Commonwealth authorities planning food production have asked for the release of at least 50,000 men from the Army and other sources to meet the continually increasing demands of the Australian and Allied services and civilians. They point out that food production in Australia is now static and must inevitably decline unless men are made available. Australia could not expect to receive reinforcements of troops in the Southwest Pacific unless she could feed them, the Director-General of Agriculture (Mr. F. W. Bullock) in a national broadcast said. “America will send us more men to shorten the war, but we must be able to feed them. At present the smallest number in ten years is working in the rural industries to meet the biggest food demand Australia has ever known. The release of manpower is essential.”

The War Commitments Committee has completed a report on the means of meeting Australia’s changing obligations in the Pacific war theatre. Big changes in the basic employment policy are expected in view of the Army and Government’s attitude that the invasion danger has passed.