FIRST MEASURES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27267, 19 December 1949, Page 5

FIRST MEASURES

MENZIES GOVERNMENT CORRESPONDENTS’ FORECASTS END OF RATIONING OF PETROL NZP A—Copyright Rec. 11 p.m. SYDNEY, Dec. 18. Correspondents predict that early next year the Menzies Government will consider ending the rationing of petrol, tea and butter. One source believes that petrol rationing will go on February 1 as the current coupons recently issued by the Chifley Government expire at the end of January. The Commonwealth is paying a subsidy of 2s 6d per lb on tea to keep the retail price down, but it is believed that with Indonesia back in the market the price of tea will fall sharply. The Sunday Sun says the Menzies Government will not submit a New Year Honours List because there is not the time to pass it through the Governor-General, Mr W. J. McKell, to Buckingham Palace. The political correspondent of the Sunday Herald says that an important group within the Liberal Party is seeking information whether Field-marshal Lord Montgomery would be available for appointment as the next GovernorGeneral of Australia.

The Herald correspondent also states that an anti-Communist Bill, which will be one of the first measures to be submitted to the new Federal Parliament, will declare the Communist Party subversive and unlawful and will dissolve it. The Bill will also empower the Attorney-general to declare other bodies “ substantially Communist.” Communists in the public service will be summarily dismissed.