Mr. Menzies' Broadcast
Mr. Menzies, in his broadcast on Tuesday, put before Australians the most comprehensive view of their part in the war that has yet been formulated. Everything beyond a frugal provision for the needs of individuals must be organised to meet the supreme need of the community. Personal interest must be " tossed overboard," and rights " put in pawn." Civil industry must be concentrated on a limited number of essen- tials, and more men and plant ti-ansferred to essential war work. Mr. Menzies proposed a good deal of new machinery for these purposes, including a separate Ministry of Supply distinct from the Ministry of Munitions, and a Director of Tank and Armoured Vehicle Production to be placed under the latter, besides an assistant Minister of Aircraft Production. The Government would take control over coastal shipping and also over the coal industry. Uninterrupted war output must be assured ; and strikes and lock-outs would be prohibited. " Hard- headed disloyalists " responsible for sabotaging the war effort would be interned ; while the Arbitration Courts would be empowered to take the most drastic action against offending unions or employers. The most difficult, yet probably the most effective part of this programme is the internment of strike-fomenters. Australian industry is a limited sphere, in which great influence can be wielded by quite a few irre- sponsible firebrands. It will not be forgotten that during the last war a power of interning agitators had eventually to be used in Britain.
Previous page
