WAR CRITICS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24627, 7 June 1941, Page 14

WAR CRITICS

AUSTRALIAN MUNITIONS FASTER PRODUCTION URGED A POLITICAL UPSET (Air Mail) SYDNEY, May 10.. Disclosures of a serious lag in munition production by two Labour members of the Advisory War Council. Dr Evatt and Mr J. Beasley have had wide political repercussions. Dr Evait and Mr Beasley published a joint statement in which they produced evidence to support their allegations that the administration of the Government's munition and supply policy was not producing a " 100 per cent, effort." Following their statement came reports that a strong section of the Federal Laboir caucus is prepared to stand firmly behind Dr Evatt and Mr Beasley This section of the caucus. it is known, is determined to force Labour circles into unseating the Government and substituting either a Labour administration or an all-party Cabinet led by Labour. The immediate outcome of the statement made by Dr Evatt and Mr Be?sley was an announcement by the Federal Labour Leader (Mr J. Cuftiii) that he had advocated drastic changes in the Department for Supply and Munitions to the Acting Pnme Minister (Mr A. W. Fadden). These changes are said to incLde the removal of Senator Mcßride from the Ministry of Supply and Munitions. Political observers in Canberra believe that Labour members will ask Mr Fadden to take charge of the department as scon as the Prime Minister, Mr R. G. Menzies. returns from America. Supporters of this plan.say that Mr Fadden has already shown his capacity to make quick decisions on matters essential to national interest. He has refused to accept the reputations of peace-time industrial leaders as an indication of their ability to help the national war effort. Mr Curtin's Leadership If the militant Labour members force their views for a Labour-led Government they are certain to meet, with the opposition of Mr Curtin. Mr Curtin: is expected to stake his leadership against any.move to ipset the Government. While newspapers carried column editorials arising out of the Evatt-Beasley exposures, the/Minister of Supply (Senator Mcßride) hit back hard in the defence of his department's effort.

Senator Mcßride, in. reply to their criticism, said: "I have read with deep concern the statement of Dr Evatt. and Mr Beasley, in which they have made the gravest allegations against the Munitions Department. Munitions experts from Great Britain, who have closely examined our production figures and who have seen the factories and annexes in actual operation have expressed amazement at. the range and. quantity of the itenis being produced. These experts admitted that they had benefited by new processes and methods that have been evolved here." Senator Mcßride said that the team of administrators headed by Mr Essington Lewis, formerly a high executive of the Broken Hill Proprietary,. Ltd., had brought the. department not only to the stage of producing a wide range' of war equipment, but to the stage where certain, of this equipment can be exported. Changes Advocated When Mr Curtin was questioned about the Evatt-Beasley denouncement, he declined to make any comment. It was then, however, that he announced his advocacy of changes in the Munition and Supply Department, Political observers at Canberra regard Mr Curtin's suggested changes as an eleventh-hour attempt to retain the initiative in moulding Labour policy. Meanwhile Dr Evatt and Mr Beasley deny that their criticism of the munition programme will inevitably force a Federal Labour crisis. It is well known, however, that the matter will, be hotly debated at the pre-sessional caucus 'meeting this month. Observers regarded the Evatt-Beasley alliance assignificant for it may have far-reaching effects on caucus voting.