“ What Changes in Thirty Years! ”

Hokitika Guardian, 10 June 1921, Page 3

“ What Changes in Thirty Years! ”

A W. M; HUGHES’S STORY

A typical story of William Morris Hughes, now Australia’s Prime Minister," and on 0 of the world’s notable statesmen, is going the rounds at present, It is typical—and true. Mr llindies, not long ago, was an honoured "guest at a big, rich homestead in New South Wales. It was a luxurious place-internal telephones, private electric system, a shearers’house that made the shearers blush when they looked at it. A distinguished company was at dinner, and the little, shrivelled, deaf dyspeptic whose extraordinary mentality has put him at the heard of the nation, was the life and .soul of the party. He was a fund of ouuint anecdote and witty epigram. The host was called to the telephone,., and when he came bade he saul someone had called him from Sydney to tell him that one of his horses had won a * "“Fancy being in direct touch with the city by ’plume,” said one of the guests. “What changes in thirty years!” The small dyspeptic chuckled and glanced at his host. “Pig cjumfi® 8 - “ von say,” he remarked. “Shall I te them?” ... The host grinned ,a trifle sheepishly and “Billy” told them. Thirty years earlier, the boss noticed a dustv, dirty little man approaching the shearing shed and intercepted him. “What do you want?” he demanded The little man looked up at the big frowning man, and returned a soft an swer “1 thought you might Jet me speak to the men in your shed.” “What do you want to talk about, shouted the boss, for the little man appeared to be deaf. The little man want od. lie said, to talk about organising a union. Then the boss, who had heard about this pertinacious union “agitator’ being in the district, broke loose, and used bullock-driver language. But the little man was not upset; lie proved that he commanded a fair flow of language himself, and be by no means got the worst of the-exchange. Then th, boss directed attention to a most fei ocious dog, tied up nearby. “I’m going to unloose that dog in ninety seconds,” he said. ... . The host passed the wine decanter. The Prime Minister declined wine and nibbled at a nut. “The dog died long ago,” said the host. “1 have no doubt of it.” said Mr Hughes. “But the union lived.” I have no doubt of it.” said the host grimly. “Toll us,” said someone, “Did you get through the gate in ninety seconds?” “No,” said tho Prime Minister, “I was over the fence in loss than thirty seconds.”