PEACE PROBLEMS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25426, 6 January 1944, Page 3

PEACE PROBLEMS

AUSTRALIAN RECONSTRUCTION PLANS ALREADY MADE (N.Z.P.A. Special Aust. Correspondent) (Rec. 8 p.m.) SYDNEY, Jan. 5. “What is being done by Australia to meet internal problems of peace—when it comes?” The' answer to this question has been given by the Commonwealth Director-general of Post-war Reconstruction, 36-years-old Dr H. C. Coombs, who states: “ Should the war end in the late months of 1944, our plans .would be sufficiently advanced to deal with the transition to peace on an emergency basis. By well into 1945 we will have detailed plans ready to meet Australia’s problems.”

A vast blueprint is being prepared by Dr Coombs’s department and is rapidly taking tangible shape. Seven main instrumentalities are included in the department, handling rural reconstruction, secondary industries, housing, demobilisation, reconstructional training, re-employment, and national works. To ensure the balanced development of plans in these fields the bodies hold joint quarterly meetings for the exchange of information. AH maintain contacts with the fighting services, repatriation, labour, and national services, and the migration authorities. Two commissions, rural industries and housing, have already toured Australia. The Housing Commission took evidence from 800 separate organisations as well as from' hundreds of individuals.

Knowing that weary fighters and workers will have a tremendous urge to re-establish themselves speedily in normal civilian life after the war, the Reconstruction Department’s main task is to harness and direct this vast movement of Australian man and womanpower and to meet their demands for goods and services without chaos. It is for this reason, too, that the Commonwealth in 1944 will seek by referendum wide post-war powers for a period of five years. Without such powers the present reconstructional plans cannot be fulfilled. The objectives and progress In the seven main sections of Australia’s reconstruction organisation are:— The Demobilisation Committee will suggest the rate of discharge of military and war industrial personnel. The Repatriation Committee will administer schemes for improved amenities for country areas and improved rural education.

The Secondary Industries Commission will recommend future industrial development and will report on the feasibility of Australian Government war factories being converted to peacetime production. The National Works Council will present an interim report to the State Premiers’ conference at Canberra this month. Details of the programme of immediate short-term and part-time vocational training for ex-service personnel and war workers have already been announced.

The Re-employment Committee will assess post-war employment prospects in Australian industry and will prepare - plans for the re-employment of war workers and fighters. As a result of the Housing Commission’s report, the States have been asked to . prepare plans for building 30,000 Government-financed dwelling units for low income families in the first post-war year. Australia’s annual housing target will be stepped up to 80,000 as soon as possible. The Rural Reconstruction Commission’s initial report, about to be presented, will recommend new areas for a land settlement scheme for soldier settlers. An electrical water supply, as well as long-range works, will be submitted covering electricity, water conservation, and road and rail developments.