AUSTRALIAN MINISTER

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 230, 26 June 1944, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN MINISTER

Visit To Observe N.Z. Administration ' (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, June 25. Senator R. V. Keane, Australian Federal Minister of Trade and Customs, arrived in Auckland on Saturday by air on a visit to observe the- results of the Labour administration in the Dominion on behalf of the Commonwealth Government. He is accompanied by Mrs. Keane and the Director of the Division of Import Procurement. Mr. A. C. Moore. Two other members of the party are Mr. A. Hendrickson, secretary and Mr. L. W. Whitehead, Press relations officer. The visitors left by air for Wellington today after a brief tour of the city and a visit to the Savage Memorial atßastion Point, where Senator and Mrs. Keane each laid a wreath on behalf of the Commonwealth Government. One wreath was of Australian flowers and the other of New Zealand flowers.

During his visit, which is expected to last for just over a week. Senator Keane proposes to examine New Zealand achicve’ments in housing, social services, rationing. price stabilization and liquor control, as well as aspects of lend-lease. Australia’s reciprocal lend-lease expenditure was already touching the £150,000,000 mark, amj was still mounting, said Senator Keane in indicating Australia’s share in the Pacific war. That figure exceeded Australia’s annual peacetime expenditure. In order to maintain the large quantity of supplies under lend-lease rationing had had to be introduced in Australia, and severe-shortages in a number of commodities were being experienced. The part Australia was playing in lendlease was further shown b.v figures quoted by the senator. They included £-8,000,000 spent on works such as aerodromes and defence installations, £16,500,000 worth of aircraft stores and equipment and £29,000,000 worth of provisions. on the manpower situation, Senator Keane said Australia’s manpower pool had long since dried up. “Today we are ii! a position where we need 30,000 to 40,000 skilled workmen to complete high priority jobs.” he said. “Endeavours have been made to switch workers from munitions manufacturing, which is now being reduced, into these jobs, but many difficulties were confronting the Government in .doing so.” In addition to being Jlinister of Trade and Customs, Senator Keane’s portfolios include control of rationing, prices, and stabilization, and he is in charge of J lie Division of Import Procurement. This division handles the procurement, shipping. disposal and accounting of every article imported into Australia. This and its counterpart in America, the Australian War Supplies Procurement Office, employs 2000 people.