AUSTRALIA’S DEFENCE RECKONED TO BE NOT SO GOOD

Grey River Argus, 27 March 1948, Page 3

AUSTRALIA’S DEFENCE RECKONED TO BE NOT SO GOOD

SYDNEY, Marell 24. Former Service members of the Federal Parliament, say they are not satisfied with the replies to charges made that the defence measures taken by the Australian Government are hopelessly inadequate and that the construction of the Empire guided missiles range in Central Australia is well behind schedule. They said they wore alarmed at what they consider complacency on the part of Ministers in view of the deteriorating world situation. To a statement bv the Prime Minister (Mr Chifley) that in the next live years £250,000,000 would be spent on defence, these members argue that the mere fact, of the estimates being approved moans very little. They add that previous moneys approved for defence purposes have not been used, that apart from coastal artillery the only fullytrained body in the Army is the brigade in Japan, and tnat because of 'the extremely poor response to recruiting campaigns the prospects of having 19,000 men in the permanent Army within a few years is slight. Mr Chifley recently said that any further expansions of defences in consequence of events abroad was unlikely, "because in some cases the cash allocation made this year would not be expended." “Surely the non-expenditure of the funds allotted cannot be accepted as final proof of inability to do more", commented the Sydney Morning Herald. "All it shows is that we are doing less than was deemed necessary in lhe calmer international atmosphere of nine months ago." British experts have expressed concern at the slowness of construction work on the rocket range project, which they consider Australia’s main contibution to British Commonwealth defence. Some authorities allege tl’.it ineHicient planning and organisation. ha\e resulted in works begun nearl) a year ago falling far behind schedule.

Specitically erilicised ar'? the works al the rocket range head, about 13'J miles west of Port Augusta, which has been given the aboriginal name of Wommera. These works include the laying of a water pipeline from Whyalla, the building of 20 miles of railway line, the construction of an aerodrome and strips, and the erection of a township, workshops, and communications equipment. N.Z. CABINET IS ADVISED WELLINGTON, March 24. The problems of scientific warfare which will have to be faced in the event of a third world war were outlined to members of the Cabinet today by Sir Ben Lockspeiser, chief scientist to the British Ministry of Supply. 'This was announced by the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr Parry) who presided in the absence of the Prime Minister (Mr Fraser).

AERO CLUB GRANTS

WELLINGTON, March 24

The Cabinet has approved the payment to aero clubs of an amount equal to 20 per cent, of the salaries paid to club Hying instructors for the year ending March 31. The total payment, of £2836 will be shared by 19 clubs. In addition approval has been given to an extension of time to those clubs which under the present. scheme have not completed the training of A.T.C. cadets.