RETURNING HOME.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 July 1919, Page 7

RETURNING HOME.

COMMONWEALTH POLITICIANS FASEWELLED By Teltjraph,—Press Aasn.—Copyright. London, July 8. Mr. Hughes and Sir Joseph Cook have left London for Australia. There was a great crowd to bid them farewell, including Mr. Bonar Law, Generals Birdwood and Monash, and other prominent people.. Mr. W. M. Hughes was the centre of a unique ceremony at Gray's Inn and the Law Court when, for the first time on record, a man was passed through the various-grades and admitted to the bar within one hour. At Gray's Inn, Mr. Hughes donned the garb of a student for two minutes, then a barrister's robe for five minutes and fin;*' . sporting silk, the Lord Chancellor with the benchers received Mr. Hughes from the pension room. Tile Lord Chancellor said that, according to special orders from the bench, he had called Mr. Hughea to the bar. Lord Birkenhead added that it was the desiTe to make Mr. Hughes a, King's Councillor) but there were difficulties. Though Mr. Hughes, was an honorary bencher of Gray's Inn he had not been admitted to the English bar. However, by good will and ingenuity, a way out had been found. Mr. Hughes was now a barrister and, speaking for the other benchers, he (Lord Birkenhead) expressed gratitude for the signal eeryiceS (Mr. Hughes had rendered to the Allies' cause and the pride with which he welcomed him as a member of the bar.

Mr. Hughes then proceeded to the Land Courts, where 'Lord Re.ading, Chief Justice, welcomed him and where the oath wan administered to him.—Aus.-N.Z Cable Assn.