MR. HUGHES'S TOUR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2778, 24 May 1916, Page 6

MR. HUGHES'S TOUR

ADDRESS TO DOCKYARD - WORKERS THE SHIRKERS HEREAFTER S : By Telegraph—Press Association—CopyrigM .v . ■. - London,' May 22. Mr. W. M. Hughes and his wife, Mr. EAndrew. 'Fisher (Australian .High Comm!S3ioner); and. Professor 1). G. M'Doug-; '.iftll (Tasmania) visited Devonport on Sun•/dayV as the guests of. the Commander-in- . Chief: The' party inspected' the dock-' • yai'd under , the guidance of Rear,-Admiral •JUundy. v";v' '..'There was'a'brief steppage of the work •; of a thousand men busy on repair work. Mr ■ iHughes, standing-.-'on.. the • ship's'. quar ■terdeck, made . a . speech and was cheered. .■Ho 6aidv "Everyone of my Ministers has dune manual labour. We ;in Australia, :■ where Labour; governs, realise that every Lubour interest and ideal Will be crushed •'unless we -win. ■ Australia is proud of hei ' • Midlers and sailors.' Many, to-day are participating in the grand work of the great- ■ e6t Navy in the vorld. Their brothers '-fought on Gallipoli and are iignting in Prance, and are glad to live in these days when there is a man's work to do. The shirker hereafter -will be regarded ais a ,-fJoper and pariah, ..and that is what he deserves." .: The party lunched at Admiralty. House ■ Bud then proceeded to Weymouth. " • \ A Spirited Specch. Colonel Johnston received the visitors,: and they motored to the Australian camp. Mr. Hughes delivered a spirited speech. He'said: "You have inscribed Australia's ' feme imperishably in world ..history. Every time I see Australian soldiers, I am "more and more impressed. I bring you 'a message from your fellow-citizens, that they glory in what you have done,, and are perfectly confident, when the oppor-':"-*.tunity' comes ..to meet our..great enemy^- : (many interrupted, saying : will soon be there")—you will uphold the reputation made in. Gallipoli. Everything Aus-. : tralia holds dear hangs' in : the balance. The people' must govern, not despots.: Thero will be a greater war in the future _ unless the world gives the people a fair share of, what is' going. (Cheers.).: It has been ;.a ' great thing : for us ' in Australia to hear the - plaudits of the " w-orld showered, on you. You have been orbwned with' veterans' laurels. Although you do not claim greater credit than'tie British and the Canadians, you may well comparison .with the soldiers , 'of any nation at any time. - -I .shall ; re- ' .turn .and tell your relatives, that I found you well and ready .'to continue your in. the war to the'bitter end." . "' Mr. Fisher complimented the men on • ■ their renewed health,i.and said: 'Tlou are inst' the same old .Australians.". Mr. ■".Hughes ' took the salute, at the march past, inspected the tilts and kitchens, dined at the officers'/ mess, and sat in front of .the Jinta in the cool of the evening, listening to the Australian band. He spent an. hour in tho. officers' " lounge, hearing amusing stories of Gallipoli, and conwuded with a,n early morning visit to the camp for enteric cases -and unfit men,' and delivered a short address, advising the men to be of good ,cheer. ■ ■ "'"Mr. Hughes returned-, to London in the :. "afternoon, and" transacted much. publio business. ; He will lunch with the JapaIfuese and Italian Ambassadors before going to tho Midlands on Thursday, where . : he will receive the Freedom of Liverpool, Manchester, York, Sheffield, and BirniIngham.