EMPIRE’S WAR EFFORT

Southland Times, Issue 24368, 24 February 1941, Page 5

EMPIRE’S WAR EFFORT

Fine Contribution By Australia (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, February 21. Australia’s immense contribution, to the Empire war effort receives additional emphasis from the visit of the Prime Minister (Mr R. G. Menzies) to London, where he arrives at a moment when the southern seas may become a new theatre of Axis aggression. It is confidently believed that the consultations in which he will be engaged ir: London will be of great value. Mr Menzies reached London via Palestine and Egypt, where he has been able to visit the Australian Imperial Force both in the training camps and in the forward positions in the Western Desert, and to discuss the military situation in all its aspects. He confessed to the Press conference this morning that he was not yet fully recovered from exhaustion, but there were no signs of fatigue in the vigorous and stimulating speech in which Mr Menzies described Australia’s enthusiasm for her war tasks.

“The already fine efforts of the Australian forces will be trifles compared with what we hope to achieve before this job is finished,” he said. “When the Australians fight they do so because they are the great grandsons of the men who were your great grandfathers also. The people of Britain must not be tempted to feel that they are alone in the fight. They are not alone. A very large proportion of the world, including my own country, is with them, not out of some feeling of benevolence, but because we are an integral portion of the British community.” INCOME TAX TREBLED Striking evidence of what Australia was doing in providing men and material and the stupendous cost at which this was being accomplished, was given by Mr Menzies. “The Commonwealth income tax has been trebled, but the Australians are not counting the cost,” he said. “If we come out of this shooting match broke, well, better broke than conquered.” What seemed an ambitious scheme for establishing a pre-war pilot strength of 400 for the Royal Australian Air- Force had been left far behind. Under the Empire training scheme now operating, 'Australia would produce by the same stage next year 26,000 pilots, gunners and observers. There were some problems associated with the scheme, but there were no problems in recruiting the type of men needed. Australia’s total munitions expenditure before the war was between £3,000,000 and £4,000,000 out of a total defence appropriation of £14,000,000. The Munitions Department, which had called in the help of outstanding men in each department of industry, was now working on a total defence programme of £120,000,000, which it was hoped to encompass within two years. This year’s total Australian budget for defence was £186,000,000. As to the sea effort, Australia was now building naval ships from the Tribal class of destroyer downwards, and the present programme consisted :of no fewer than 57 ships, which they ; anticipated would be completed in four months.