AUSTRALIA’S WAR EFFORT

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVI, Issue 23030, 23 October 1944, Page 6

AUSTRALIA’S WAR EFFORT

Completely Recast SYDNEY, October 21.. The Prime Minister ox Australia (Mr J. Curtin), speaking at Perth, said that the complete recasting of the Commonwealth’s war eftort had been under way for some time. This 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 the fighting forces to be sharpened to ultimate effectiveness. After summarising the past activities of the Australian fighting forces in the Pacific.and olner war theatres, Mr Curtin said fnat control of the air and sea, which had been realised gradually and progressively in the last two years, had enaoled the Allied forces to seize territory for future moves, in which the Australian forces would take their full place. In addition to feeding Australian civilians and the services, Australia was supplying food to the Allied forces cased 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 145.000 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 tons 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. Sacrifices by Australians Munitions production, which had seen Australia carry 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, 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 w’hich, for £160.000,000 was now being filled. Australians had taken their pattern from the miracles of production, courage, sacrifice, and determination which bad marked the peoples of the British Isles. On that pattern they hoped to play their full part in bringing victory over Japan and in developing a great British country in the Pacific in peace.