WAR SUPPLY POSITION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 12 August 1942, Page 5

WAR SUPPLY POSITION

AUSTRALIA NEVER STRONGER COMMENT ON RECENT CRITICISM Sydney, Aug. 11. Some war supplies diverted from Australia have already been replaced, a Government spokesman declared to-day. Australia’s loss from the lag was only temporary and she was now receiving those supplies agreed on between the United Nations when the Minister of External Affairs (Dr Evatt) was abroad. Supplies included valuable raw materials as well as planes, tanks and other finished weapons of war. “Australia is stronger at this moment than ever before in her history,” said the spokesman. “Criticism of the war supply position may result in another Federal Minister making a munitions tour abroad. The Minister of Supply, Mr Beasley, has been mentioned. Commenting on the utterances of the Deputy-Leader of the Federal Opposition.Mr W. M. Hughes, which resulted in the revelations of restricted American aid. the Sydney “Morning Herald” in a leading article to-day said: ”He has told the Japanese nothing they did not know. On the other hand he did his utmost to check their further progress by awakening Australia to a sense of its peril arising from the enemy approach on Port Moresby. In this he has succeeded and the nation will thank him for his candour. There has been, as Mr Hughes contends, too much secrecy of an unnecessary kind regarding the conduct of war operations on this side of the Pacific.”—P.A. Special Australian Correspondent.