SWIFT CLOSE OF WAR

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23278, 14 August 1945, Page 5

SWIFT CLOSE OF WAR

Australian Ministers Caught Unprepared Transition To Peace N.Z.P.A.—Special Correspondent (7.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, Aug. 13. The war has moved so swiftly to its conculusion that many Federal Ministers are worried lest the peace has caught them flatfooted in their plans for Australia’s transition to normal economy. The Ministers have full confidence in their plans, but they and all the Australian Governments must suffer severe headaches from the fact that the nation’s peace plans assumed a continuation of the war at least until next March. Adding to the Federal Ministers’ worries is the fact that, since the “No” vote in the referendum, they have to depend mainly on State co-operation for them to carry out their plans. Six months after the end of the war the National Security Act, under which the Federal Government derives most of its extra constitutional powers, will expire and Ministers are frankly fearful of what the States may do to their plans. The most vital discussions between the Commonwealth and the States since the federation in 1901 open in Canberra next Monday At this Premiers’ conference, where there will be a renewal of the struggle between politicians insisting on State rights and those determined to see Federal powers extended. Under the original master plan for post-war reconstruction the Commonwealth would have done the talking and the States the listening. The referendum upset that and now the Commonwealth must do the asking and the States the deeds—if they feel so inclined. Federal Ministers fear that, even if it be the States who muddle the plans, the Federal Government —which means the Labour Party—will pay the penalty at the elections next year. Peace Problems “Australia is entirely unprepared for peace. We lack a comprehensive rehabilitation scheme,” said the DeputyLeader of the Opposition (Mr E. J. Harrison), in urging that the Federal Parliament should be summoned immediately to discuss Australia's peace problems. “These problems are so urgent that we cannot afford to wait Tor Parliament to reassemble on August 29. Chaos is inevitable unless something mpre than the Commonwealth’s half-baked plans for post-war reconstruction are produced immediately.” Saying that the present acute shortage of labour will change overnight to one of at least temporary abundance, the “Sydney Morning Herald” adds: “There is as yet nothing to meet this critical situation. Some sympathy may be felt for the Government at the rapid turn of events, which has doubtless upset its calculations, but there will be no excuse for its failure to adjust its post-war plans by improvising rapidly to meet the problem of transition. The keystone of all transition planning is the National Works Council programme, involving the expenditure of £193,000,000 on urgent works. This plan excludes expenditure on housing, rail conversion and similar projects. Its success depends on the preparations made by the States, and there is an uneasy feeling fh Canberra that few of the States are more than half prepared.”