ALL-IN EFFORT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24636, 18 June 1941, Page 4

ALL-IN EFFORT

AUSTRALIA AND THE WAR PROPOSALS FOR PARLIAMENT ADDRESS BY MR MENZIES Greater co-ordination in industry and transport, drastic restrictions on the consumption of petrol, and fuller sacrifices on the part of the individual were foreshadowed in an outline of what he described as an unlimited war effort for Australia, broadcast last night by the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth. Mr E. G. Menzies. It was clear, Mr Menzies said, that the national organisation must become one primarily for war. and civilians must know that- the time had come forathem to make only frugal provision for their own wants, and to devote everything else towards-(he war effort. To them, the Battle of the Atlantic, on which such tremendous issues hung, seemed a distant thing, for they were not living, as were the people of Britain, under the shadow of starvation: but it should be emphasised that victory in this battle, and in others, could not be won without effort-and sacrifice. . "We.have reached the Doint,JT Mr Menzies said, "where vour alleged rights or mine do not matter. The only way is to nut into Dawn every right we have until victory is attained. If we leave the war to others, we do not deserve to win." Full Use of Man-power

There would be presented to Parliament during the next week or so. Mr Menzies continued, proposals which, it was hoped, would remove everything that might impede the success of the voluntary enlistment system, and in conjunction with these, every effort would be made to conserve and direct man-power within the country. There were at present too many men engaged in civil production, and top manv industries were engaged in making things the people liked, and not enough of the things that were vitally necessary. It was< therefore, intended to concentrata men. machines, and money on the W3r effort, to concentrate production, limit the number of organisations, and cut non-essential imports to the bone. Mr Menzies explained how directors of various services would be appointed and said that the duty of these men would be to co-ordinate industry, supplies and transport. The Government proposed to take over complete control, of all shipping on the coastal routes, and ways and means of utilising internal transport" to the best advantage were being investigated, so that not an inch of space would be Petrol Restrictions Turning to the question of. petrol supplies, Mr Menzies. emphasised, the necessity for building up reserves, and warned his hearers that in view of the shortage of shipping, the consumption of petrol must not only be reduced to accord with the imports, but much, further still, so that the. 'quantity 'jinstorage might,'be- increased; ..Before the war. he pointed out, used. 30,000,000 gallons of petrol .a month, and if the, best interests of the, country, were to be served this figure must be rer duced to 12,000,000. . . While paying a warm tribute to the . thousands of workers who were giving such splendid arid" continuous service. Mr Menzies admitted that-there werer a few blemishes on the picture:.Strikes had been all too frequent, and to deal With these conciliation authorities had been appointed in/an endeavour to bring the employees and employers closer together, and to see that no. real grievance would go s urihe'ard v or unredressed "It is incredible." he said." tbpt there are people in Australia who will recklessly interrupt +he constructional activity without which riiunitions. cannot be produced. Unfortunately, there have been stoppages, and these simply represent a sabotage; of the nation's war effort.' If they are- the result of thoughtlessness, le'would advise those responsible to think; if they are the re-" suit of subversive activity, rid further warning'will be given., c ;■■; ..... "Those whose activities are subversive will be interned," Mr Menzies declared, " irrespective i of party, position, or creed, and this will, come into: force to-morrow morning." ■ '"."■'", .'-v.

The faults were not all on one side, he added, and if any employer, ' or group of employers, interfered with the national effort, remedial action would immediately be taken. . . ■ - Collaboration with Industry

In conclusion, the speaker dealt with the financial aspect of the effort, and explained that he proposed to ask Parliament to remove the ' present artificial limitation on the number of Ministers. If democracy were to vindicate itself properly, he said, all men In a democratic parliament should be enabled to contribute their individual effort, and' to this end, parliamentary committees would be appointed to cooperate with the directors of the varii ous services.