Mr MASSY-GREENE (RICHMOND, NEW SOUTH WALES) (Minister for Trade and Customs) (12:53 PM) . - I can give the honorable member the assurance that as soon as. possible the Government will carefully consider whether the provisions of the Act can be extended to munition workers who went to Britain on their own accord and engaged in munition work there, and to members of the mercantile marine who resided in Australia and served overseas in the class of work referred to in the amendment which the honorable member has submitted. Until we have had an opportunity of looking into this matter thoroughly and seeing exactly what is involved it is impossible to agree to the extension of the Act to any other class than those already provided for.

Mr Lynch - Will Australians who served in the British Forces be included in the Act?

Mr MASSY-GREENE (RICHMOND, NEW SOUTH WALES) (Minister for Trade and Customs) - They are already included. The original Act was limited to members of the Forces, Naval or Military, who had served outside of Australia, but the Government have decided to include war workers and munition workers, and there is not the slightest doubt that as time goes on our experience will demonstrate the necessity for extending the Act in other directions. However, Ministers feel that at the present time they have accepted a responsibility in regard to as many persons as it will be possible to deal with for some considerable time. When the Act, as amended, gets into operation we can see exactly what amount of money will be involved, and' how far it will be possible to make provision for other persons.