National Register Dispute

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 171, 22 July 1939, Page 4

National Register Dispute

Mr. Menzies Appeals for Unity UNION LEADERS SEEK ASSURANCES United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. Received Friday, 10.20 p.m. MELBOURNE, July 21. On tho eve of a conference with the leader of the Federal Labour Party (Mr. Curtin) regarding the dispute over the national register, the Prime Minister (Mr. R.' G. Menzies) addressed a Scots’ luncheon after his arrival in Melbourne from Perth. He declared that Australia was in danger, and appealed for a united national outlook. He criticised “persons of obscure mental processes who riso up and say, ‘This is Hitlerism,’ ’' when a democratic Government, democratically elected, took steps to ensure that its decisions were carried out. Mr. Menzies was referring to labour disobedience to the national register and the threat by key industries to dislocate Australian industry. He added: “I appeal for discipline and warn you that we cannot get the maximum national effort if some of us think our way or running the country is the only way and if the majority is against that way, then the majority is Union leaders are now asking for a legislative assurance that the national register will not be used for conscriptive purposes. The executive of the Amalgamated Engineering Union, with 30,000 Australian members, advised the rank and file not to sign the register.