DRASTIC CHANGES

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24196, 11 February 1942, Page 8

DRASTIC CHANGES

AUSTRALIAN ACTION WAGES TO BE PEGGED SYDNEY, Feb. 10 Drastic wartime changes in the economic life of Australia were announced by the Federal Prime Minister, Mr. Curtin, to-day. The changes are to be introduced immediately. All business profits are to be limited to 4 per cent; all prices of goods and services are to be pegged at to-day s level; all wages are to be pegged; absence from work is to be illegal, this applying to workers and employers alike; and all speculation in commodities is to be prohibited. • SUPPLIES FOR ROMMEL FRENCH WAR MATERIALS VICHY SHIPPING ACTIVITIES (Reed. 7.40 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 The Washington correspondent of the New York Times says that Viscount Halifax presented Mr. Sumner Welles with detailed evidence proving that French ships are carrying French war materials from French North Africa to General Rommel's forces for the present counter-attack against the British in Libva. Lord Halifax also discussed with Mr. Welles what action could be taken to prevent Admiral Decoux, Governor of Indo-China, from transferring French ships to Japan for the large-scale invasion of the Netherlands East Indies which is now being prepared. The United States is expected to warn Vichy that such a transfer would be interpreted as an unfriendly act, and which would result in the adoption by the United States of a completely new policy toward Vichy. TODT'S SUCCESSOR (Reed. 5.5 p.m.) BERLIN. Feb. 9 It is officially announced that Professor Albert Spehr, inspector of works and buildings in Berlin, is succeeding Dr. Todt, who was killed in an accident on the Eastern front last week. Spehr was recently appointed to supervise the speed-up of aircraft production and is responsible for the reconstruction of the armaments industry, BOMBS ON ALEXANDRIA LONDON, Feb. 9 A Cairo communique states that in the course of an air raid in the Alexandria area yesterday morning a few bombs were dropped but no damage or casualties resulted.