MR HUGHES RESIGNS

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2539, 6 February 1923, Page 3

MR HUGHES RESIGNS

FEDERAL PREMIERSHIP. Melbourne, 2nd Feb. At a meeting’ of the Nationalist Party the Right Hon. W. M. Hughes, Prime Minister, resigned. Captain the Hon. Stanley M. Bruce was elected leader of the party. Mr Hughes, in tendering Ins resignation, said he would recommend the Governor-General to commission Mr Bruce to form a new Ministry. TRIBUTES TO SERVICE. „ Sydney, February 3. The newspapers, in leading articles eulogising the past services of Mr Hughes to Australia, and in paying tribute to his successful career m”the face of adversity, agree that he did the right thing in tendering his resignation. Mr Brune has three days in which to form a Ministry. The outlook is uncertain whether a_ Nationalist or a composite Cabinet will be formed. -- THE NEXT PREMIER ? Mr Stanley M. Bruce, who may be the next Prime Minister, has held a distinguished career. He was educated at Melbourne Grammar School and at Cambridge University, where he gained his rowing blue. Admitted to the English Bar, he did not practice, but enlisted in 1914, serving as captain with the Royal Fusiliers. He was twice wounded, and awarded the M.C. in 1915 and the Croix de Guerre in 1916. Invalided from ill-health due to wounds, he returned to Australia. In 1918 he was elected for Flinders to fill the vacancy caused by' the resignation of Sir William Irvine. When appointed Treasurer in 1921, he resigned chairman of Paterson, Laing, vand Bruce, Ltd. He always commands attention in the Federal House of Representatives, and his speech at the Geneva. Conference, which lie attended, was widely commented on by the European Press. He is recognised as an authority on finance.