FULL MOBILISATION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 February 1942, Page 4

FULL MOBILISATION

OF AUSTRALIAN RESOURCES STATE RIGHTS SET ASIDE. RIGID ECONOMY IN USE OF PETROL. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 1.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. The War Cabinet meets today to prepare the necessary regulations for a complete mobilisation of all Australia’s resources. The gazetting of some regulations may not be practicable immediately. It is understood that the Government’s view is that if detailed explanations were given of what it has in mind, selfish people would try to forestall the regulations. A move to reduce to a minimum petrol used for non-war purposes is expected almost immediately. Palembang, which has been taken by the Japanese, was the major source of Australian petrol supply. It is believed that the Government intends to restrict some forms of amusement and abolish others and to make people use their leisure in some form of defence service. Mr Forde (Army Minister) said, however, that he believed the Government would be able to obtain the men it required at present from the age groups already proclaimed. The “Daily Telegraph” says the Federal Government will in future unhesitatingly override State opposition to any Commonwealth proposal connected with the war effort. Senior Federal Ministers said this was clearly indicated in Mr Curtin’s announcements that Cabinet had decided to take full control over every section of national life. The Federal Government considered the war position so critical that Premiers’ Conferences and prolonged consultations with State authorities would be no longer held.