MR. W. M. HUGHES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 245, 10 July 1919, Page 5

MR. W. M. HUGHES

FAREWELLED IN LONDON fly Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, July 8. Mr. W. M. Hughes, Prime Minister of Australia, and Sir Joseph Cook, Minister for the Navy, have left London for Australia. There was a great farewelling to them, those present including Mr. Bonar Law, General Birdw'ood, General Monash (Commander of the Australian Forces), and other prominent men.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

HONOURED BY THE BAR A K.C. Ol) 1 ENGLAND. London, July 8. Mr. AV. M. Hughes (Prime Minister of Australia) was the' centre of a unique ceremony in the Gray's Inn Law Courts, when, lor the first time on record,' a man was passed through the various grades and admitted to the Bar within ono hour. Mr. Hughes donned tho garb of a student for two minutes, then a barrister's robes for five minutes, finally wearing the "silk" of a King's Counsel. Tho Lord Chancellor (Lord Birkenhead), with the Benchers, received Mr. Hughes in the Pension Room. Tho Lord ■Chancellor said that, according to tho special orders of tho Bench, he was called to the Bar.

, Lord Birkenhead added that it was the King's desiro to make Mr. Hughes a King's Counsel, but there ivcro difficulties. Though Mr. Hughes was an honorary Bencher of Gray's Inn, ho had not been admitted to the English Bar. However, by good-will and ingenuity a way had been found. Mr. Hughes was now a barrister. Speaking for his brother, of the Bench, lie expressed gratitude for tho signal sorvices Mr. Hughes had rendered to tho cause of the Allies and the pride with which lie welcomed him as a member of tho Bar. Mr. Hughes proceeded to the LawCourts,. where Lord Reading welcomed him, and tho oath was administered. 1