EARLY ELECTION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 July 1939, Page 5

EARLY ELECTION

STILL THOUGHT LIKELY IN AUSTRALIA IN SPITE OF DENIAL BY MR MENZIES SERIOUS POSITION REACHED. AUTHORITY OF GOVERNMENT CHALLENGED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. CANBERRA, July 13. Despite a denial by the Prime Minister, Mr Menzies, of an early election. Federal Ministers at present in Canberra are convinced that there is no other way out, says the Sydney “Sun’s” correspondent. Faced with the challenge of wholesale defiance of the national register and the strained relations with the Country . Party, Ministers argue that everything must be subordinated to an immediate decision as to whether the Government or a section of the community shall govern the country. Mr Menzies, responding to a toast at a civic reception in Fremantle today, said: “Many people seem to be discussing an impending election, but the only person so far who has not considered it seems to be myself.” The Federal Opposition leader, Mr Curtin, speaking at the same 'gathering, said: “I believe that Mr Menzies and myself hold in common things that are precious in the life of Australia. He believes in freedom of speech, and so do I.”

NATIONAL REGISTER TRADE UNION BOYCOTT. CONFIRMED AT CONFERENCE OF EXECUTIVES. (Received This Day, 9.50 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. A conference of union executives, convened by the New South Wales Trades and Labour Council, endorsed the decision of the Australasian Council of Trade Unions and key federal unions in Melbourne to continue the boycott of the national register and to strike if necessary.