Arthur held steadfast to the principle that the European war was the best time for Australasia's development. Even as the battles of Verdun and the River Somme raged in Europe, Australasia's growth did not miss a beat.
Most notably, the third phase of the Leonora Industrial Base had been fully completed and put into production, which was an enormous relief for Australasia.
The entire Leonora Industrial Base, after three phases of construction, covered tens of thousands of acres. It could accommodate over 500 super factories, nearly 2,000 medium and small factories, and hundreds of large warehouses.
This one industrial base alone would create at least 550,000 jobs for the nation, and spur the development of Australasia's industry, mining, economy, and overall standard of living.
Supported by the Australasian government, the factories in the Leonora Industrial Base were nearly at full capacity, with almost 3,000 businesses of differing sizes moving in.