MORE AND MORE FOR WAR

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 11 August 1942, Page 2

MORE AND MORE FOR WAR

CIVIL RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA (Rec. 1.40 p.m.) Sydney, This Dav. Until Australia comes down to stark subsistence level the duty of the Government would be to devote to war purposes an ever-increasing amount of the remaining civil resources of the nation. Mr Curtin told State Premiers at a Melbourne conference. “Waste, excess. luxury and even amenities must become less and less if Australia as a nation is to survive.” He declared that the war programme would mean the acceptance of various shortages by Australia, such as a sugar shortage and possibly a coal shortage This would be caused primarily by transport difficulties. Australia would have to use for war purposes its internal lines of communication in order to compensate for increased lack of shipping. All portents were that Australia was engaged in a life and death struggle for its survival. This was true for every United Nation. Each United Nation had to share the perils of war and the resources available to meet th° foe. Any adjustments to the original plans must be accepted without whining. The Premiers conferred in camera ♦with General Sir Thomas Blarney, Commander of the Allied land forces in the South-West Pacific and the Chiefs of the Australian Fighting Services.—P.A. Special Australian Correspondent.