THAT INTERVIEW.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXII, Issue LXII, 1 August 1911, Page 5

THAT INTERVIEW.

"GROTESQUE."

BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.

(Received August 1, 10.20 a.m.)

MELBOURNE, August 1. Mr Hughes has received the following cable from Mr Fisher: —"Stead's report of his interview with myself, as cabied 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 policy effective defence, and our aim the 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 their best advice as responsible Ministers of a family of nations."

Mr Hughes, commenting on this, said that when Mr Fisher calls Mr Stead's reported 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 villified him. The attack but served to heighten Mr Fisher's reputation, and amply warwanted our expressed belief in the absurdity of attributing such statements to him.