THE GUEST OF LABOUR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2752, 22 April 1916, Page 6

THE GUEST OF LABOUR

DINNER TO MR. HUGHES

/ AN EARNEST APPEAL By TelegrapH—PrfiSß Association—Copyright (Rec. Xpril 20, 9.50 p.m.) . London, April 19. .There was a big. gathering of Labour members at a- dinner which was tendered to Mr. W. M. Huglies (Prime Ministor of Australia) by the British Laboul Party in the House of Commons. Mr. Hughes, ■ replying to the toast in his honour, said that he was proud to know that organised Labour had responded nobly to the call of duty. The war.had drawn all classes closer together, enabling a truer perspective and understanding of one another. This common cause, and the spirit of self-sacrifice, hat) purged us of suspicion and distrust of the different functions of society. We were a truer nation, more ready to adopt a national policy whioh would effect a profound and salutary, change in the social and economic conditions of the people. The speaker dealt lengthily with the attitude of Labour in the Commonwealth to the war. ■ .Australia, he said, had long been prepared for the certainty of war, and nad adopted universal training a, navy, and had enlisted; an army of 200,000 men.. Also, with their utmost power, they had waged an economic war, and ( utterly destroyed tho German hold .on Australian trade. He pointed out the necessity for a chango in Britain's fiscal policy. Doubtless that would be almost revolutionary, but it obviously was .proper and necessary, and would bo welcomed by all save those whom self-interest and false ;doctrines ■ had blinded. Mr.-Hughes by urging tliaii in the gravity of the situation it was an absolute necessity to have a thorough organisation- of "all classes in order to meet the preparedness and organisation of Germany, which was still far from exhausted. He hoped that tho 1 Labour movement- would take its place in the vanguard and co-operate with all classes with -unfaltering purpose to' build up a sound social and economic foundation worthy of a higher civilisation.