FAREWELL TO MR. HUGHES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 248, 14 July 1919, Page 5

FAREWELL TO MR. HUGHES

A DISTINGUISHED GATHERING THE TASKS AHEAD' By Toleeraph-Press Association-Copyright London, July 8. Mr. Andrew Fisher (High Commisuiissiouer for Australia) gave an interesting farewell dinner to Mr. William Hughes and Sir Joseph Cook. The guests included the lord Chancellor (Lord Mirkenhead), Admiral Wemyss, tho Lord Mayor of London, Sir Auckland Geddes, Sir Edward Carson, Senator Pearce, General Sir John Monash, Major-General Sir Harry Chauvel, and Sir Thomas Mackenzie. Lord Birkenhead proposed the health of the guests. All tho men, ho said, who had contributed to the unforgettable help of Australia during the war were present at the dinner. Sir Joseph Cook, at the outbreak of war, had sent tho precious message that tho Australian fleet was at the disposal of the Admiralty. Sir Andrew Fisher had ' promised "tho last man and the last shilling." It was when ruin, swift and finn', might have swept these islands, that tho fierce unanimous cry rang from the outer Dominions and eamo as an inspiration. Ho congratulated the distinguished Generals present on having done a work only 'done twice previously in history—by Napoleon and Cromwell. They had improvised Staffs and Gonernls from cralians. Tho Germans had laughed at that, but they did not laugh much after they met tho. Australian and Canadian men, viitisefeats of arms were most remarkable. Sir Edward Carson paid a tribute to Australia's contribution to sea power, and to Sir Joseph Cook's services in connection with this matter. • Admiral Wemyss 6aid the Navy fully recognised Australia's moral and material support.. The British Navy would always be willing to assist the Australian. Mr. Hughes, in reply, said he'was glad to know that Australia had "proved herself worth of being a .part of the Empire. We would invito disaster, if we opened our gates to Germany, and he would never be a party to it. Ho would do all ho could to develop the Empire's trade within itself and with tho Allies. Sir Joseph Cook, replying, 6aid that Australia would follow British'-tradition in facing tho colossal tasks imposed by tho war. Sir Erio Geddes had confirmed Mr. Hughes's view of Germany's industrial formidableness. ."She has got what she never had before—a currency so depreciated that when she resumes competition she can get thrco days' work for a pound sterling, even if she-pays - her workmen thirty marks a day.. . Germany stands in an unrivalled position fdrcomI mercial competition."—Aus.-N.Z,:. -Cable Assn.