Meanwhile , on the domestic front , animosity developed between Sir Earle Page and Menzies which was aggravated when Page became Acting Prime Minister during Lyons 's illness after October 1938 . Menzies and Page attacked each other publicly . He later became deputy leader of the UAP . His supporters began promoting him as Lyons 's natural successor ; his critics accused Menzies of wanting to push Lyons out , a charge he denied . In 1938 his enemies ridiculed him as " Pig Iron Bob " , the result of his industrial battle with waterside workers who refused to load scrap iron being sold to imperial Japan in the Dalfram dispute of 1938 . In 1939 , however , he resigned from the Cabinet in protest at postponement of the national insurance scheme and insufficient expenditure on defence
Dalfram dispute of 1938
Dalfram dispute of 1938
Robert Menzies