BOYCOTT PLAN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23354, 24 May 1939, Page 13

BOYCOTT PLAN

COMPULSORY REGISTER AUSTRALIAN UNIONS MR. MENZIES DETERMINED WILL ENFORCE THE DAW By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received May 23, 9.50 p.m.) MELBOURNE. May 23 The inter-State executive of the Australasian Council of Trades Unions has decided to conduct a national campaign of protest and opposition to the introduction of the compulsory national register. They also decided to organise a mass boycott to prevent the filling in of forms if the national register should bo introduced. It was decided to immediately convene Federal conferences of unions in key industries to implement the executive's decision. The Minister of Defence, Mr. G. A. Street, expressed the hope that "sweet reason" would prevail when the bill to provide for the compulsory national register was passed by Parliament. He was unable to understand the trades unions' hostility, because the proposed register was designed to keep trained men in industry and keep square pegs out of round holes. The intention was not solely to secure recruits for the army. He was confident the trades unions would observe the law and comply with its requirements. The Prime Mr. Menzies, said the Commonwealth Government would take all necessary steps to enforce the law for the compulsory register.