COLOSSAL BURDEN OF ARMAMENTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVI, Issue 21360, 1 June 1939, Page 9

COLOSSAL BURDEN OF ARMAMENTS

Effect on Cost of Living Call for Drastic Reductions National Service in Britain Australia’s Defence Vote United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright* LONDON, May 30. The effect of the rearmament on the standards of living is discussed in the report of Mr J. G. Winant, the recently-appointed American Director of the International Labour Office, which will be presented at Geneva next week. Mr Winant expresses the opinion that the diversion of the substantial part of the total income of any nation from useful production services to armaments, reduces the standard of living. Costs are added to each loaf of bread, to every acre of land cultivated, and to the length of the working day, and a point may come when defence expenditure will cause actual starvation in nations of the lower income groups.

It is hoped that before this happens some general international settlement will intervene.

CALL TO COLOURS IN BRITAIN UNIVERSAL SERVICE NOW OPERATING British Official Wireless RUGBY, May 30. Arrangements for the registration next Saturday of men liable for military training under the new Act are being pushed forward. The registration will take place at labour exchanges, a medical examination will follow, and the first batch of militiamen are expected to receive their calling up notices on July 1. During the first fortnight’s training the militiamen will be tested and regraded into squads according to the ability shown. Tests will follow periodically to ensure that the more intelligent attain an advanced stage as early as possible. RUSH OF AIR RECRUITS LARGE INCREASE IN ENGLAND

British Official Wireless RUGBY, May 30. A total of 826 recruits joined the Royal Air Force last week, compared with 440 in the corresponding week of last year, bringing the total entry of pilots, observers, airmen and boys, since April 1, to 7384, compared with 2792 for the corresponding preiod of last year. COST OF AUSTRALIA’S DEFENCE PER CAPITA EXPENDITURE DOUBLED United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright CANBERRA, May 30. The Prime Minister (Mr R. G Menzies) said that the estimated expenditure on ' defence for the year 1938-39 was £2/6/8 a head, compared with £l/1/8 last year.