“GOD KNOWS”

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 173, 15 March 1932, Page 7

“GOD KNOWS”

AMUSING CASE "BILLY" HUGHES IN BOX IN ACTION FOR DEBT. A JUDGE'S"LEVITY. SYDNEY, Saturday. William Mprris Hughes, M.H.R., late Prime Mihist.ep of Australia, and Henry Macourt, as representing the now .defjmct Australian Party were sued in the District Court to-day by the Gestetner Cyclostyle Co., Ltd., of George Street, city, for £45 16s ld, for paper and ink. Arthur O'Keefe, of William Street, North Sydney, once organising seeretary of the party, said that he remembered the paper arriving. Aecounts were pas.sei for payment "in ]bulk." About Decpmber, 1930, he saw Mr. Hughes about accounts. Ways and means of paying were being discussed then. "The party is now out of existence," said O'Keefe. "Hence these tears," interposed Judge Edwai'ds. "Carrying the Baby." Mr. .Ow.en ,(f,or the .def endant) , moved for a non-suit on the ground that the plaintiff had failed to show that the defendants were personally responsible for debts contracted by the ,cpmmittee of their party. "Mr. Hughes," he added, "has al1 reqdy shoulderpd a considerable proportiop of the dejDts of the party—" Judge Edwards: And now he is going broke ? Mr. Owen; Not going broke, yoqr Honour, but he feels that it is time someone else was called upon. Judge Edwards: I can understand that; he does not want to carry the baby entirely. Hughes in Box. The judge refused to grant a nonsuit. Mr. Hughes, who with the earphone of his acousticon glued to his ear, had listened with rapt attention to the proceedings, was then cajled. In a resonant voice that filled the courtroom, he said he had had nothing to do with the ordering of the material in question. Many of the things ordere.d were not necessary, he said. Mr. Braddon (for plaintiff) : For in- ' stance, the hire of a hall for £100? Judge Edwards: Did you? "Hey ?" boomed Mr. Hughes. When Judge Edwards had explained, Mr. Hughes said he'5had no knowledge of it at the time. "No Details of Accounts." "If you want an office you must have materials. But what has that to do with me?" he added. Judge Edwards. Of course, that is the whole question. Mr. Braddon: When you saw all this office material you knew you were a member pf the executive? Mr. Hqghes: Not by virtue of seeing the paper and ink. No detaiis of accounts were presented. Mr. Braddon: !If they had heen,

would you have passed them with.out question, or wquld you have examined them? Mr. Hughes: I ask your Honour, am I obliged to answer so hypothetical a question Judge Edwards: The answer is. "God knows!" Mr. Hughes (turning' to Mr. Braddon): Very well, then; the answer is "God knows!" Mr. Braddon: Do you know? Mr. Hughes: I make no such pretensions. Judge Edwards found in favour of the defendants.