NEVER SO STRONG

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 180, 2 August 1940, Page 10

NEVER SO STRONG

DEFENCE OF AUSTRALIA EXPENDITURE OF 454 MILLIONS MELBOURNE, July 31, An official statement issued by the Commonwealth Government to-day deals with the effective manner in which Australia’s defence foundation has been laid. The statement says that the defences were never so strong, enabling the nation to become self-reliant. The cost of the war programme for the four-year period 1938-39 to June 1942 will be £454,000,000. Total enlistments in the three fighting services during the 11 months of the war to June 30 were 121,000. The number, of persons at present engaged in producing munitions is 15,200 and the output of munitions by the end of the present year will be eight times greater than in April 1939. By the end of next June there will be 150,000 employed in the Australian armament industry. The Naval expansion also has been very substantial, as in addition to the ships of the Australian navy five vessels have been converted to merchant cruisers and 30 as war auxiliary vessels, while more than 150 merchant ships have been defensively equipped. Ten destroyers and patrol vessels are at present under construction in Australian shipyards. The statement also refers to the

splendid headway in building aircraft, on which £8,000,000 is earmarked. Since the outbreak of the war 60,000 militiamen have received one month’s training, 75,000 three months and 54,000 four months.