COMMONWEALTH POLITICS

Hokitika Guardian, 29 January 1918, Page 4

COMMONWEALTH POLITICS

MR HUGHES RIDES THE STORM. 1 SYDNEY January 10. ! Never did such a small maw meet ' such a, storm as is now being ''weathered t by that old and clever politician William Morris Hughes. Ail his foes and a • considerable section of his friends are at present engaged in cursing him, •Iby hell book and candle, but the little Welshman firmly seated again in the Prime Ministership goes quietly in bis way placid and seemingly undisturbed. Of course, as everyone foresaw, he came back to the office again. He resigned but' two days later was given a commission, no' lead tile Government, and be went back to office with his old team. He had said that lie would no! attempt to govern if his conscription proposal wore defeated. Well, it was defeated, and his (government did resign. Rut it appeared that there was no one. else lit to'govern-, the c-euntry and assist in winning the war, and the Hughes Cabinet had once more to taka up its, “onerous duties and its salaries. Such specious reasoning has naturally disgusted a great section of the people. Most of the newspapers wore very outspoken about his method of honouring a pledge, but a few of the more conservative organs tried feebly enough to argue that Mr Hughes followed the only course open to one who loved this country. The public in tli gnat ion has already found expression in the action of (be executive of the !Xew South Wales National Party which met this week and seemed eager to pass a motion, unreservedly condemning Mr‘Hughes, hut which was persuaded to wait a few days until Mr, Hughes can .appear before it in person land plead his own cause. It promises, to he a lively meeting. Meanwhile*, the. political situation is “jumpy.” Ministers do not seem to fear the Opposition, which .is too weak .numerically to do any harm, but they do east anxious glances upo n their own , followers. Mr. Hughes’ little clique are I now tractable since their leader has been placed again an power; bufc prominent members of the National Party like Sir William Irvine, who do not approve of the treatment of the Ben- • digo pledge, are unknown quality. The No-confidence, motion proposed by Mr Tudor bad no bpp.e of course, but tlm attitude, of a section of the Nationalists arouses speculation. The statement, has been made that Mr Hughes is about to burry away to London to attend to certain pressing matters between Australia and the British Authorities; but, so far, it is only a well-coloured rumour.