AUSTRALIA’S PART

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 September 1939, Page 5

AUSTRALIA’S PART

* DEFENCE OF HER OWN TERRITORY INTIMATION BY BRITISH GOVERNMENT. CLOSE CO-OPERATION WITH NEW ZEALAND. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. CA.NBERRA, September 19. The Minister of Defence. Mr G. A. Street, informed the House of Representatives today, to the accompaniment of Labour cheers, that the British Government had stated that at present the best contribution Australia could make was to defend Australia herself. Britain, he added, was not asking for volunteers but was dealing with the forces by means of controlled intake. The Prime Minister, Mr R. G. Menzies. replying to Mr J. Curtin’s comment on co-operation with New. Zealand. said the Australian defence authorities were maintaining the closest contact with New Zealand and constant collaboration would continue.Hundreds of men are seeking enlistment in the militia force of 20,000 for service at home or abroad. A fair proportion of former “diggers” and Anzacs are offering. They will be signed up as reserves for home duty. The Minister of Customs. Mr Lawson, told the House of Representatives today that Britain had bought 290,000 tons of Australian sugar at 7s 6d sterling a cwt. A special meeting of the executive of the Australian Labour Party held last Friday to lay down Labour's war policy. endorsed the view that “Australia cannot afford to send troops abroad, and can best help by preserving her manhood to repel a foreign invader.”