EXIT MR HUGHES.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 February 1923, Page 4

EXIT MR HUGHES.

END OF FEDEP.AL POLITICAL ! DEADLOCK. J As expected, Mr Hughes’ announce- . incut at the Nationalist party niee-t-, ing followed with dramatic swiftness . the breaking nil nl the inegotiations between the Nationalist and Country parlies. The NatioiiidLsl party meeting had ended at noon, and Mr Hughes said that he had no statement to make. He left shortly afterwards lor Federal Government Mouse, where he lunched with Lord Foster. An official interview took place afterwards, and the following announcement was made by the secretary to the Governor-General. Mr Starling:—“This, afernoon the Go-; vernor-Generai received the Prime Minister. who tendered his resignation, and advised His Excellency to send for Mr Bruce. The Governor-Genera! accepted Mr Hughes' advict . and requested him to retain office until his successor was appointed. Later in the day the Governor-1 leneral sent lor Mr-Bruce and asked him could he form an Administration which would satisfy His Exceloncy as Lo its prospects of stability. Mr Bruce asked for time before giving a definite reply. Though Ministers previously were forced to recognise flint their position had heroine untenable, the decision that Mr Hughes should tender his rcsignaioti was not reached without some dilferouee of opinion. Senator Pearce, it, is stated, urged .Mr Hughes that as negotiations with the Country Party had .broken down when, the Nationalists desired that they should continue, lie should recommend to the party that the Ministry la reconstructed and meet Parliament. Senator K. I). Milieu, on the other hand urged .Mr Hughes that lie should resign immediately. This fact, win o it became known among members, cleared some surprise. Mr lllighes eventually agreed to resign, and if uskid for advice. to recommend liia' Mr Ifruee be sent lor. The result

ot tills meeting when it was ainioiinei d cairn a- a surprise lo nietilh; rs. When the party meeting adjourned previously many members had the impression that Mr 11 iiglue would not resign. Mr Hughes made a dignified speech at the meeting. He ret erred to the

breakdown in flic negotiations, and tie- i dared that the blame for it rested with ; the Country Party, for they had shut ' the door after the Nationalists had passed it resolution favouring a re- | sumption of the negotiations. lie : pointed out that, as a result of tin- ■ elections, the Natiouali-1 Party had been reduced in the House of l: pre- ;

sciilii lives from 38 to '2'.) members: sovon seats had boon lost at tho elections, and in addition Air Walt (\' ieloria) had doliniUdy left tho | artv and Mr Atkinson (Tasmania) had joined the Country Party. The Nationalist, Party, therefore, ua- in a minority, and. !!> th.' t ip. nmstaiiM s. eould not I be o> ported U> carry on the work o! i the Uoeeninient unaided. Air Hughes said that ho proposed to tender certain adviee to the (.lovernor-tJeneral it lie | were asked for an opinion, luit that : ole. ion !\ il Mould he a hi aieli ol . Ii- I ipiotte on Ill's part to indicate to mem- j hors what the purport ol his eominnni i cation Mould he. He appealed to mem- i h.,r imt to di ,o . it,,' aiol ,ea ' ban., ■ him. There Mas a tense leeline at the j meting. and ineinhers afterwards gave, expression to their admiration for the splendid manner in uliich .Mr Hughet i had retrieved at: almost impossible po- I rsition. i'lvcn those iilto had hren op- ; to / >- T~■■-ef'■A;...'''/' ~'T ,Vf *'A'. rYV'yr.; - v> -r tv v;,tV '?*/’■£ '‘J./'qf V ;£? I®^ :>& f* yl ' .‘ 't.- -!‘c i'i (i vk*V. v■"v.-.ti "A;...' '•/' ; '■A;...'•_. :£? i■ * v ;a\ •. a/ 'i V fr'.-'-'f* ei^»/ \y-~£K‘S\ '’J ■/'•/ .;.v I ‘ «; " J \'i. r i -ef . '£.* I' '-’t.-' - : .*‘V :Y\Qv:; ■VSr f* i i v.r\’. y A.V‘'v;/V "A;...''■;/ V ;_’£t i n tntives of all the forces opposid to l.aho.er. lie consistently advoeittod dnrthe election campaign a rapprochehotuien the Xaionalist and Conntry Parties. It is known that Country Party members are willing to reopen negotiations with the Nationalist Party umv that Air Hughes has retired. When asked whether they will support Air I!ruro or a composite Ministry, they recall the offers made in their fund memorandum. which set out that both the-:, courses Mould lie acceptable* to them, subject to Mr Hughes’ retiremerit and to certain other reservations. The "Sydney Morning Herald” in an editorial eulog-V of Air Hughes, refers to him a.s “a great Imperialist.” “He did his duty to the country and In hi- party. There was no other honourable course left to him. and he makes it possible to-day for every good Australian to pay a tribute to him. at the end of a long period of service, with nimlloved gratitude. He would be a bold critic who would sav that Mr Hughes’ work for Australia is yet finished, and a moan and ignorant one even among the bitterest of his political enemies—who "ill not spare a moment of reflection upon nhat the little man from West Sydney has done abroad for the honour and tin* proud name of A us- j | tralin. His life’s history is M'oll known to great mini hers of men ami women. | who can recall him as the umbrollamender anti the ndiarf labourers’ leader j of litto inoi-fl than a generation ago. j Thev will tell all their stories over I again, and discover an admiration that j cannot be denied for his sheer dogged i pluck during a long political light, from j the day when some of them bought ; him a pair of hoots jo grace his appear-! a nee as an election candidate in Svd- j nev to the day when he stood up for j the justice of Australia before all ting Viewers of tho world at A’ersailles. The , peace negotiations of early 1019 mark- ( ed the zenith of his career. He believed. and with good reason, that the earlier proposals of President A\ ilson meant, but a tempered chastisement of Germany, and a denial of their just rights to those who had fought Prussianism from the beginning of the n\nr. TTe won bis point, and that point Mas the adequate recognition of the Australian effort. . . Whatever his future mnv be. bis countrymen will remain under no illusion that such a man, just