WAR CABINET

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 September 1939, Page 11

WAR CABINET

FORMATION IN AUSTRALIA NO NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AT PRESENT. BRITISH PURCHASE OF PRIMARY • PRODUCTS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. CANBERRA, September 6. There is no likelihood at present of a National Government being formed’ in Australia, nor of a coalition with the ■ Country Party. The United Australia Party-has-decided to maintain its separate entity. The Labour Party has pledged support for the Government in measures, designed for the welfare and safety of the Australian people. Australia’s war organisation will however, be placed under the control of a War Cabinet, the personnel of which will be announced shortly. The complete mobilisation of 78,000 militiamen in Australia in drafts of 10,000 was ordered last night by the Prime Minister, Mr Menzies. The object of restricting the drafts to 10,000 was to avoid dislocation of business. Mr Menzies pointed out that universal training could now operate under the Defence Act, but it was not immediately practicable to train and equip additional troops. It is officially announced that the' Duke of Kent will remain in England till the end of the year. The Government consequently is immediately stopping the renovations to Government House at Canberra. The British Government has informed the Commonwealth that it will buy the whole of the Australian surplus of butter, cheese, meat' and canned fruit, including pineapples. Mr Menzies announced that the British Government had also agreed to purchase the entire Australian wool clip, but Britain will probably not be able to buy the whole of the exportable surplus of wheat,