AUSTRALIA’S WAR EFFORT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25673, 23 October 1944, Page 3

AUSTRALIA’S WAR EFFORT

COMPLETE RECASTING BASE FOR PACIFIC OPERATIONS SYDNEY, Oct. 20. The Prime Minister, Mr J. Curtin, speaking at Perth, said that the complete recasting of the Commonwealth’s war effort had been under way for some time. It was designed to fit Australia as an organic base, just as Britain was fitted for the war in Europe, while at the same time enabling the striking power of her fighting forces to be sharpened to ultimate effectiveness. After summarising the past activities of the Australian fighting forces in the Pacific and other war theatres, Mr Curtin said that the control .o£ the ..air and the sea realised gradually and progressively in the past two years had enabled the Allied forces to seize territory for future moves in which Australian forces would take their full place. In addition to feeding Australian civilians and service personnel, Australia was supplying food to the Allied forces based on Australia, to Britain, to the British Admiralty, and to the British forces overseas. Meat production in 1944 was estimated at the record figure of 1,035,000 tons, of which Britain and the British forces would receive 178,000 tons and the United States forces 158.000 tons. Butter production was estimated at 140,000 tons, of which Britain would receive 47,000 tons, and the United States forces 9000 tons. Cheese production for 1944 would be 34,000 tons, of which 10,000 would go to Britain and 8500 tons to the British forces. More than 11,000,000 gallons of milk would be condensed and dried for Britain and the British forces.

Production of munitions, in which field Australia had carried out projects undreamed of before the war. had been redirected in keeping with. Australia’s part in the all-out effort in the Pacific. To achieve all this and go on achieving it. Australians were on a regimen of rationed food, restricted clothing, pegged wages and prices, high taxation, and the constant necessity to fill war loans, the latest of which, for £160.000,000. was now being filled. . Australians had taken their pattern from the miracle of production, courage, sacrifice, -and determination which had marked t.he peoples of the British Hes On +hat pattern thev hoped to play a full part in bringing victory over Japan and in developing the great British country in the in peace.