ALL-IN WAR POLICY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 18 February 1942, Page 5

ALL-IN WAR POLICY

I AUSTRALIAN PREMIER’S ANNOUNCEMENT COMPLETE MOBILISATION OF ALL RESOURCES BIG WAR LOAN LAUNCHED Sydney, Feb. 17. Complete mobilisation of all of Australia’s resources, human and material, for the defence of the Commonwealth was ordered to-day by the War Cabinet. Mr Curtin made the announcement in a stirring speech in the which he launched a “Liberty” war loan of £35.000.000. He said: "Every human in this country is now, whether he or she likes it or not, at the service of the Government. Every material thing—money, machinery, plant, or whatever it may be—must, on the immediate direction of the Government, be diverted to the purposes of the war. “That is clear-cut and specific,” he exclaimed, and he added: "The enemy rests upon a totalitarian basis, using everything. This country, therefore, will use everything in her resistance. We have reached the stage when a new way of life is impelled on us all. Leisure must now be devoted to the service of our fellowmen. There is nobody who has not something to give, who has not some work to perform, who cannot find some service that is useful in some way or other.” Mr Curtin said he would eschew post mortems and would not allow others to continue to dispute whether mistakes had made, whether this thing or that had been done rightly or wrongly. That chapter of controversy had ended. Only two things stood between the Australians and the overthrow of everything they had or might hope to have: namely, the heroism and fighting prowess of the men who went forward into battle, and the industry, zeal and devotion of the men and women who remained behind. Revealing that the loan was already more than half full, Mr Curtin declared: “No longer shall this Government appeal. It will order and direct.” The speech, which was lustily cheered. was also broadcast to the whole nation.—P.A. POST FOR FORMER TREASURER MR THEODORE TO DIRECT WORKS COUNCIL Sydney, Feb. 17. The War Cabinet to-day appointed Mr E. G. Theodore as Director-Gen-eral of the Allied Works Council. He will have the right to allocate labour and materials for the job he considers to be the most urgent, and he will be responsible to the Minister for his decisions. It was stated that considerable aid from Allied countries was already reaching the Commonwealth. i A representative of the Allied forces . will work with Mr Theodore, who was treasurer in the former Scullin 'Lab- ( our) Government, and became an im- . portant gold mine operator in Fiji. The Commonwealth Government has . allocated £500.000 to aid the production . of minerals which are needed for the ( 1 war. This decision arises from the ( I enemy occupation of countries which ] formerly supplied minerals to which , Australia had ready access. Common- t wealth Ministers are also talking of suspending the gold-mining operations , and using the plants for the production ( of more essential minerals. —P.A. ) J