SPEEDED UP

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21600, 10 December 1941, Page 4

SPEEDED UP

AUSTRALIA’S WAR EFFORT BIG RUSH OF RECRUITS WOMEN CALLED UP (United Press Assn.— Elec. Tel. Copyright) SYDNEY, Dec. 9 Recruiting in Australia has been greatly stimulated as a result of the break with Japan. Enlistments yesterday and today were three times greater than in any two days for a year. Nearly a thousand men have enrolled in Sydney since yesterday and been conveyed direct to camps. The Federal Government has imposed drastic restrictions on transport services which use either petrol or coal. Motoring for pleasure is to be prohibited, and long-distance travelling by trains to be disallowed except for business or urgent domestic purposes. An appeal is made to persons engaged in essential industries to abandon holidays. The Miners’ Federation today pledged full support to the Government’s war effort, even to the extent of carrying on through the holidays. Thus maximum coal production will be maintained. A new constitutional procedure was adopted today by Australia in making war on Japan. A proclamation was issued by the GovernorGeneral at the request of His Majesty the King, who was acting exclusively in this matter on the advice of Mr Curtin. The King’s signature will be rushed to Australia by photogram for publication in the Commonwealth. Civilian Safety The Federal Cabinet has decided on further mobilisation, and the machinery to achieve this has been set in motion. This announcement was made by the Minister for the Army, Mr Forde, in a broadcast tonight. He added that long-pre-pared arrangements for civilian safety were being put into effect. The Australian aircraft industry is being fully mobilised under direct Government control. The War Cabinet has decided to recall additional militia for more intensive training, and also to call up 1600 women for the army and 500 for the air force, thus relieving a corresponding number of men for more active duty. Technical advisers are working out details of regulations for commandeering supplies of raw materials for the defence forces and essential industries. Other regulations being drafted include stricter control of transport, petrol, coal, oil and non-essential spending. By progressive steps civilian requirements will be subordinated entirely to the needs of the services. Pleasure Service Curtailed All pleasure services in the coming weeks will be strictly curtailed. A schedule shortening shopping hours will be drawn up after tne position has been examined, the object being to save fuel lor transport and reduce civilian consumption. Steps are being taken to prevent rises in prices and the creation of black markets such as occurred in Europe.