MR. MENZIES TO USE CRIMES ACT TO COMBAT THE ROLLING STRIKE

Wanganui Chronicle, 24 March 1950, Page 5

MR. MENZIES TO USE CRIMES ACT TO COMBAT THE ROLLING STRIKE

CANBERRA, March 23 (Recd. 12.40 m).—The Prime Minister, Mr. Menzies, announced in the House of Representatives tonight that the Government would use powers in the Crimes Act to counter the "rolling strike’’ technique, which was strangling the port of Brisbane. The Act provided a maximum of 12 months’ imprisonment or deportation under order of the Attorney-General for non-Aus-tralian-born participants in a proclaimed industrial dispute. Mr. Menzies added that the Gover-nor-General, Mr. McKell, this atfernoo n proclaimed the Brisbane dispute "a serious industrial disturbance prejudicing and threatening trade and commerce with other countries and among the States.’’

“Communist leaders on the waterfront have developed the technique of the rolling strike,” said Mr Menzies. "It is intolerable to the people of Australia, who have vital interests in the continuity of shipping, both interstate and to other countries, notably Britain, whose economic recovery Is so much involved in the prompt delivery or loading of cargoes in Australia. Communist office-bearers have been instigators and leaders. Twelve ships are tied up in Brisbane. It is estimated that by Monday 36 ships will be tied up and the position will be chaotic “Cabinet has decided that if the Communists have decided to take action the Australian people will fight back. They will not tolerate lawlessness and violent attacks upon the normal processes of peaceful trade and commerce. We are proposing at an early date to reintroduce legislation specifically designed to deal with Communist enemies once and for all. The Crimes Act states ip plain terms what can happen to them. The Government will exercise its authority unde r the Act with vigour and determination. There can be no compromise.”

Appealing to the trade union movement, Mr. Menzies added: “It would be the supreme tragedy of Australian industrial history if the trades union movement took its enemies to be its leaders or made common cause with people who are in every sense not only strangers, but bitter enemies to the great traditions of Australian democracy.” Labour as yet has given no indication of its attitude On the Governments proposed use of the Crimes Act against the rolling strike technique in Brisbane. In the past Labour has opposed use of the Act. The Federal secretary of the Waterside Workers Federation, James Healy, whose union is involved in the Brisbane strike, was born in Manchester, England. Under the terms of the Act an individual guilty of an offence is liable, "if not born in Australia, to deportation by order of the AttorneyGeneral as provided in this Act.”