A GROTESQUE REPORT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 33, 2 August 1911, Page 5

A GROTESQUE REPORT

MR. FISHER ON THE STEAD INTERVIEW. fly Cable—Press Association —Copyright. Melbourne, August 1. Mr. Hughes has received the following cablegram from Mr. Fisher: "Mr. Stead's report of his interview with myself, as cabled by you, is grotesque. I saw him for a few minutes hurriedly, and said, what I have stated hundreds of times in public speeches in Australia and the United' Kingdom, that our objective was the world's peace, our po-liey effective defenee, our aim unity of the Empire. All these would be best attained by trusting His Majesty's Governments in the United Kingdom and the dominions to give him the best advice as the responsible Ministers of the family of nations." Mr. Hughes, commenting, said: "When Mr. Fisher calls Mr. Stead's report of the interview 'grotesque,' he cramps into one word every epithet of ridicule, denunciation, and contempt that every fair-minded' man must feel towards one who has vilified him. The attack but serves to heighten Mr. Fisher's reputation, and amply warrants our expressed belief in the absurdity of attributing such statements to him." "GLADSTONE'S GHOST." \ A PARALLEL CASE. Received 1, 9.30 p.m. London, August I. The Globe states it will be interesting to hear Mr. W. T. Stead's defence, if he has any. Possibly the interview with Gladstone's ghost furnished a parallel case, which was no more Rke the late Mr. Gladstone than Mr. Fisher's interview was like Mr. Fisher's public declarations.