POST-WAR PLANS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25216, 31 May 1945, Page 6

POST-WAR PLANS

FULL EMPLOYMENT REABSORBING SERVICES AUSTRALIAN POLICY NEW SOCIAL SERVICES B.v Telecraph—Press Association —Copyright (Reed. 8.15 p.m.) CANBERRA, May 30 The Australian Government's plans for reabsorbing into peacetime occupations about 1,000,000 service personnel and workers in war industries are contained in a \\ hite. Paper on full employment tabled in the House of Representatives today. The Minister for Post-war Reconstruction, Mr J. ,T. Dedman, told the House that the document set forth unequivocably the Government's intention to secure .full employment after the war. This policy was closely® linked with proposals for the reform of the Commonwealth's banking system, which wa« now under discussion by the House. Indeed, it might be said that the basic purpose of the new hanking legislation was to ensure that no outworn financial prejudices, or the resistance of vested interests, woidd ever again he a bar to the achievement of full employment. Continuance ol Many Controls

The White Paper plans envisaged the continuance in peacetime of many con- : trols and an overhaul of arbitration machinery. Works proposed to be I undertaken were estimated to cost £193,000,000 and included housing, slum clearance, the building of community centres, roads, railways and aerodromes, also electrical undertakings. Other projects were land development through irrigation, afforestation, water conservation, the prevention of soil erosion. Hood control and reclamation, ' Although no details were given in the White Paper the Commonwealth ! Government, with the co-operation of the States, proposed to build 50,000 houses in tlie first year after the defeat of Japan, rising to 8000 a year for the i next ten years. Raising Standard of Living The White Paper also promised improved nutrition, more rural amenities and social services, also more factories and other capital equipment making for higher standards of living.

Tt asserted that to achieve all this the Commonwealth must continue to hold the following:—The control of prires during the transition period ; control over the allocation of materials in phort supply; control over the supply of capital for both public and private investments; control over imnorts. Control over manpower in the direction ol labour will, however, be abolished after the war.

Place o{ Private Capital

Discussing the place of private capital in the maintenance of full employment the White Paper stated that special plans would create new opportunities for private investment. Warn--1 ing was given against the "depression" policy of reducing the expenditure on J public works when all other expenditures are falling off. "Tf the resources * of the community are to be fully employed," it stated, "this policy should De reversed." In order to assist in the maintenance iof full employment. Mr Dedman concluded, the Australian Government •would also seek agreements now with ' other nations, particularly major ini dustrial nations, by which the eourii tries would undertake to do all in their power to maintain employment within their own territories and thereby expand the demand for internationallytraded goods. It would also prepare internally for the post-war development and diversification of export markets for Australia's primary and secondary products.

OKINAWA ADVANCES • NAIIA AND SHURI SUCCESSES BY MARINES /Reed ci.ls p.m.) WASHINGTON, May 29 Before dawn today, says Admiral Nimitz's communique. marines on Okinawa constructed footbridges across the Naha Canal and the 27th Marine Begiment crossed and seized all the city north of the main harbour with the exception of scattered pockets. The troops came under considerable fire from Oabaiura Hill, south-east of the city. The Ist Marine Division at 7.30 a.m. today launched an attack on Shuri Castle and reached the former headquarters of the enemy commander. The Americans met stiff resistance north and north-east of Shuri. including tanks. Night attacks by enemy swimmers off the east coast in the 7th Division zone were repulsed.

A number of small raids, made against our forces in the Okinawa area last evening by enemy aircraft, resulted in damage to one light fleet unit, says the communique. During Sunday and Monday, attacks by American planes, ships' guns and shore batteries destroyed 115 enemy aircraft. After two months of heavy fighting there are signs that the Japanese on Okinawa are crumbling, says a correspondent. Marines already hold twothirds of the capital, Naha. On the •western side of the city the enemy line is collapsing.

The 6th Marine Division in Naha has cleared the north shore of Naha Harbour, states the United Press correspondent. The 7th Division advanced 1500 yards on a 3000-yard front on the east coast and reached Baten Bay. The gains right across the island are the best for a month.

CANADIANS FOR HOME SOLDIERS '(Reed. 9.5 p.m.) OTTAWA, May 30 The Prime Minister, Mr Mackenzie King, has announced that it has heen provisionally arranged to return to Canada in the next six months all service personnel who have heen overseas for more than tour years, excepting those in the service of the army ol occupation and certain key personnel. He adfled that .Ho.ooo men were required for the army of occupation.

SCALING DOWN AIR FORCE OTTAWA, May 20 The .Minister ot Air in Canada, Mr C. TV. Gibson, announces a reallocation and demobilisation plan by which the Eoyal Canadian Air Force strength will lie scaled down from ] 65,000 to 100,000. Units will then be provided for the Pacific, for the occupation of Europe and for the training and administrative organisation in Canada. MIGRATION QUESTION (Reed. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON. May 29 The probable issue of a statement on migration, possibly in the form of a "White Paper, was referred to by the Dominions I'tider-Sfrretary. Mr I'. V. Emm-Evan*, when answering a question in the House of ('ominous. He said that consultations were proceeding with the Dominion Governments on the question. DUTCH GOVERNMENT (Reed. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, May Qf) The Dutch radio reports that Queen T, ilhelmina of the Netherlands has charged Professor W. Schermerhorn, chairman of the provisional executive of the Netherlands People's Movement, and Mr M. W. fire' f with the task of forming a national cabinet of reconstruction and renewal.