MR. HUGHES GETS £25,000.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 December 1920, Page 1

MR. HUGHES GETS £25,000.

TESTIMONIAL FROM ADMIRERS.

SYDNEY, Nov. 30

Mr Hughes, during the past week, was invited to "Sydney by the Hiighes Testimonial Fund Committee. He came, was feted, and graciously accepted a cheque for £25,000 —subscribed by admirers in all parts of the Empire. / The following day, in tiie course of a speech, Mr Hughes told how, on three successive nights, a good many years ago, lie slept among the drunks and dead-heats in the Sydney Domain, and had practically/nothing to eat during that period. Now, he is not only Prime Minister of Australia; lie is one of the leading statesmen of the Empire; his name iis known throughout tiie civilised world, he is the friend of kings and the confidant of presidents. Yet there are hundreds of men in Sydney who can describe “Billy Hughes” as they knew him only a little more than 20 years ago—“ Billy Hughes,” the itinerant umbrella mender, the wharf labourer, the Domain orator, the belligerent little stormy petrel of industrialism—the man whose very name was anathema to the men and interests who, the other day, subscribed a very considerable portion of that £25,000. The greater tiie successes achieved by Mr Hughes since Labour cast him off, tiie-more vociferously, does Labour hate him. .“Billy rakes in £2o,ooo—Who is it from, and what is it for?” was the flaring bill of the Australian “Worker” which greeted Mr Hughes from every hoarding when he arrived in Sydney to gather in the cheque.? The eyipmittee in charge of the-fund, for s.om,e reason, refused to allow the publication of the list of subscribers— §o that, as may be seen, the Labpur Party is pot neglecting an excellent chance of making political capital out of the gift. Speaking of Prime .Mi.pi.s.ters, it is worth noting that a speaker paid a very high tribute to Air AV. F. Massey the other evening, at the annual dinner of the New South Wales Ulster Association. Mr Masspy was held up as one of tlm great Ulstermen of the day —the peacefulness, prosperity, and sound financial condition of New Zealand being put forward as evidence of his foresight, and great administrative ability. There is; no doubt that Mr Massey is slowly gaining abroad a quite enviable reputation for statesmanship. ■ ; ' t -