AUSTRALIAN SERVICES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 41, 19 February 1943, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN SERVICES

LAND FORCES TREBLED THREE-QUARTERS OF A MILLION EXCEEDED (Recd. 6 p.m.) Canberra, Feb. 18. “The all-over figure tor Australia’s three armed services exceeds 700,000. This is equivalent of 4,250,000 under arms in Great Britain, 13 250,000 In the United States, and 1,100,000 in Canada.” These facts were given by the Government leader in the Senate, Senator Collins, replying to criticism of the Militia Bill, which is stli under consderaton by that body. Senator Collins added that the strength of Australia’s land forces had been nearly trebled since Japan entered the war. Nearly 500,000 had been diverted from civilian production to the services or direct to war work, while since the outbreak of war the number of employees in Government munition factories, including aircraft and shipbuilding plants, had increased by 800 per cent. The number of workers producing goods for the civil market had been reduced by 64 per cent.

The leader of the Senate Opposition, Senator McLeay, has announced that he will move a vital amendment to the Bill in the committee stages. The amendment will provide for an extension of the area of service beyond the limits set out in the Government’s Bill. Political observers believe that voting on the amendment will be equal, 18 all, making the amendment unacceptable and securing the passage of the most disputed measure in the history of the present Federal Parliament.