Australian War Effort Production

Northern Advocate, 5 September 1941, Page 6

Australian War Effort Production

[Per Press Association. —Copyrightl WELLINGTON. This Day. The Acting Australian Trade Commissioner (Mr. J. L. Menzies) in a statement in connection with Australia’s war effort, said recent news had tended to focus attention on certain political events, and it therefore was fitting that at the commencement of the third year of war some facts and figures should be given with regard to Australia’s war record. It is estimated that Australia from (he outbreak of the war until June, 1942, will spend for war purposes the stupendous sum of £453,705,000. For the year ended June 30, 1941, war expenditure amounted to £ 186,000,000. and for the year ending June 30, 1942, the estimated cost is £225,000.000. Last War Finances Australia’s total war expenditure for the five financial years of the world war (1914-19) was £270,000,000. During the last war the Australian public subscribed £210,000,000 to war leans. During this war £ 102,000,000 so far had been subscribed. Tire Australian public in the last war contributed £7,500,000 by way of savings certificates, but in this war £20,000,000 already had been similarly subscribed. During this war to date 265,000 men have enlisted for war service, comprising 152,000 in the Australian Imperial Forces, 48,000 in the air force, 18,000 in the navy, and 47.000 in munition works. In addition a home defence army of 218.000 had been raised. More than 193,000 applicants for enlistment in the air force have been received. Naval, Munitions Production An extensive programme of naval construction has been undertaken and at least seven shipyards are engaged in naval shipbuilding. The Commonwealth Government has allocated £6,000,000 to inaugurate a programme of merchant shipbuilding of vessels up to 10,000 tons. Possibly the most spectacular side of Australia’s war effort has been in the field of munitions production, and a resume of Australia’s achievements in this direction shows that about 15,000 factory employees are working directly or indirectly on war work. Before the war Australia had commenced the manufacture and assembly of aircraft, and today in less than three years a steady stream of aircraft, complete with engines, is now flowing from the production lines.