MR WATT

Southland Times, Issue 18847, 12 June 1920, Page 6

MR WATT

PREMIER’S STATEMENT CONTRADICTED. AWKWARD POSSIBILITIES. (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, June 10. Replying to press cables from Melbourne, in winch Mr Hughes denies knowledge of Mr Watt’s resignation, the latter iniorms the Australian Press that Mr Hughes knows all the circumstances of his resignation. “Frequent cables have passed between us during the last fortnight. Mr Hughes received my cabled resignation on May 24, before it was announced to the press.” Mr Watt, questioned as to the disagreement regarding the wool scheme, informed the Australian Press Association that there was a lot more behind it than the wool business. Matters had been approaching a crisis for a fortnight past. Mr Wait added that he would not say another word. He was leaving Ilia hotel to-day and disappearing into a void leaving no address. He was taking a long holiday, which he much needed.

The Financial News, in a leader entitled: “Watt's it mean?” says; “The resignation may create an awkward position. It leaves the financial negotiations in the air. Whatever may he tiie result of his action on sympathetic colleagues in Mr Hughes’s Cabinet, this is a pity, because the negotiations were of the first importance. Possibly some statement as to the exact nature of the. strain between Mr Hughes and Mr Walt may shortly be made.”

THE WOOL QUESTION. COLONIAL IMPORTERS’ VIEWS. LONDON, June 10. Before Mr Watt resigned, the chairman of the Colonial Woo! Importers' Association wrote to him pointing out lhat if public sales were resumed in Australia competition for the nest two years at any rate would be much restricted owing to ihe great difficulties -connected with freight, finance, and exchange. Comparatively lew English buyers were strong enough financially to purchase so far ahead of their actual requirements, and even those few would operate in Australia only at prices leaving a very full margin for contingencies. The Association considers- that the ideal method of disposing of wool would be to coniine sales entirely to tiie English markets, but, as a considerable number of growers in Australia would like to try offering their wools there, the Association suggests that growers he left entirely i.-ee to olfer by pflblic auction in Australia or to consign to Loudon, whichever they prefer. MR HUGHES UNCOMMUNICATIVE. SPECULATION AT MELBOURNE. SYDNEY, June 11. Mr Hughes still preserves a sphinx-I'kc attitude respecting Mr Watt's re.dgnnt ion. and slabs that nothing is olfieiaiiy li'dore him and he is reserving his comment.-. until later. Meanwhile he is rabbit-shooting at Wagga. )u Melbourne Mr Wall’s dramatic resignation is regretted, but he is blamed by Ins colleagues for precipitancy. It is suggested that Mr Watt sought the Cabinet’s acquiescence in a certain direction, intimating that he would vacate (he Treasurership unless it was forthcoming. Acquiescence being refused his resignation followed as a matter of course. The actuating motives arc largely speculative.