IN AUSTRALIA

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20911, 16 September 1939, Page 8

IN AUSTRALIA

FORCE OF 20,000 AT HOME OR ABROAD OUTLAY OF £45,000,000 (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) CANBERRA, Sept. 15 The Federal Cabinet today decided to raise immediately a special volunteer force of at least 20,000 men for service at home or abroad. The enlistment and training of this force will not interfere with the present plans for the intensified training of the militia which has hitherto been recruited. The Cabinet also decided to increase defence expenditure from £33,000,000 to £45,000,000 for this year. In a broadcast tonight the Prime Minister, Mr R. G. Menzies, confirmed the Government’s intention to enlist the force for service at home or abroad, as circumstances permit. He said their services would be availed of for the duration of the war, preference being given to single men not occupying essential or key jobs. Co-operation With New Zealand Mr Menzies added that these men might be used for the defence of Australia or be garrisoned in the Pacific or might even be used in co-opera-tion with New Zealand at Singapore. “It might even be practicable to send an expeditionary force to Europe,’’ concluded Mr Menzies. The Assistant-Treasurer, Mr J. A. Perkins, detailing Commonwealth supplementary taxation in the House of Representatives, announced a further increase in the company tax, bringing it to 2s in the £, and also a war-time goldmining profit tax of 75 per cent on the price of gold over £'9 (Australian currency) a fine ounce. The company and goldmining profit taxes will together yield £2,500,000 for the remainder oi 1939-40. New War Cabinet During a broadcast tonight, the Prime Minister, Mr R. G. Menzies, announced that the War Cabinet would comprise himself and also the Attorney-General, Mr W. M. Hughes, the Minister of Supply Development, Mr R. G. Casey, the Minister of Defence, Mr G. A. Street, the Minister of External Affairs, Sir Henry Gullett, and the Minister of Commerce, Senator G. McLeay. The War Cabinet will conduct day-to-day administration. It will report to the full Cabinet at intervals and will make decisions without reference to the full Cabinet. Mr Menzies broadcast the moan features of Australia's revised defence programme. IN SOUTH AFRICA AT OWN REQUEST HIGH COMMISSIONER RESIGNS SIDE OF GENERAL HERTZOG lUnllcd Press Assn. —Elec. TeL Copyrigm, CAPETOWN, Sept. 15 The Pretoria correspondent of the Times says the resignation of the High Commissioner in London, Mr C. T. te Water, was at his own request. The South African Minister in Paris, Mr S. F. Waterson, will succeed him. Mr te Water is expected to enter politics on the side of General Hertzog. ADVISED TO LEAVE AMERICANS IN RUSSIA (UnltA'i Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. (Received Sept. 16, 11 a.m.) NEW YORK, Sept. 15 The Moscow correspondent of the American Press reports that the United States Embassy has advised Americans having no compelling reason for staying in the Soviet to leave.