AUSTRALIANS COMPLACENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25800, 22 March 1945, Page 7

AUSTRALIANS COMPLACENT

FEDERAL TREASURER’S WARNING

(Rec. 7 p.m.) CANBERRA, Mar. 21 Complacency in Australia was attacked by the Treasurer, Mr J. B. Chifley, in a war loan broadcast, the state of complacency is edging its wayon to our records as a fighting and working nation,” he said. “The Government is continually faced with an ever-growing demand for relaxation of war-time controls over man-power, building, transport, and finance. The time has not arrived when any extensive relaxation can be made with any degree of safety to the war effort or to the nation’s economic stability. “There is a feeling abroad that the war is won. Many people can already picture triumphant parades down the cities’ main streets, but the war is far from over, though ultimate victory for the Allies is undoubted. There are still some 100,000 Japanese troops in New Guinea and the islands to the immediate north of Australia. The total defeat of. the Germans will not ease our burden, but will accentuate it. This is based on expectations that the Mother Country will transfer further large forces to the Pacific, and Australia will be the receiving and distributing base.” Mr Chiflev said the total cost of the war to Australia to the end of February was £1.952,000.000. Every day it cost a further £1,250,000.

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