PEACE PROBLEMS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 January 1944, Page 3

PEACE PROBLEMS

PREPARATIONS IN AUSTRALIA PLANS FOR TRANSITION. VAST BLUE PRINT NOW BEING PREPARED. (Special Correspondent.) SYDNEY, January 5. What is being done by Australia to meet the internal problems of peace—when it comes? An answer to this question has been given by the Commonwealth Director General of Postwar Reconstruction, 36-year-old Dr. H. C. Coombs, who states: “Should, the war end in the late months of 1944 our plans would be sufficiently advanced to deal with the transition to peace on an. emergency basis. By well into 1945 we will have detailed plans ready to meet Australia’s problems.” A vast blueprint, which is being prepared by Dr. Coomb’s department, is rapidly taking tangible shape. Seven main instrumentalities are included in the department: the Handling of rural reconstruction, secondary industries, housing, demobilisation, reconstructional training, re-employment, and national works. To ensure balanced development of the plans these field bodies hold joint quarterly meetings for an exchange of information. All maintain contacts with the fighting services and the reparation, labdur, national service and migration authorities.

Two commissions—rural industries and housing—have already toured Australia. The Housing Commission took evidence from 800 separate organisations as well as from hundreds of individuals.

As a result of a report by the Housing Commission the States have been asked to prepare plans for building 30,000 Government-financed dwelling units for low-income families in the first post-war year. Australia’s annual housing target will be stepped tin to 80,000 as soon as possible. The initial report of the Rural Reconstruction Commission, which is about to be presented, will recommend new areas for a land settlement scheme for soldier settlers.

Knowing that weary fighters and workers will have a tremendous urge to re-establish themselves speedily in normal civilian life after the war the re-construction departments’ main task is to harness and direct this vast movement of Australian man and woman power, and to meet their demands for goods and services without chaos. It is for this reason too that the Commonwealth this year will seek by referendum wide post-war powers for a period of five years. Without such powers the present re-constructional plans cannot' be fulfifilled.