MR W. M. HUGHES

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 289, 10 November 1925, Page 10

MR W. M. HUGHES

“BILLY HAS COME BACK.”

BRILLIANT ELECTION SPEECH

If Mr AV. M. Hughes were in America most, newspapers recently would have carried headlines announcing: “Billy Has Come Back,” says a Sidney correspondent. As it is, Sv dney newspapers are content to say that be was his old self when he opened his election campaign at North Sydney. Those who thought that the little AVelsliman’s comparative retirement indicated that he had lost his “punch ’ wore simply confounded. True, ho started hesitatingly, but even at his best' in war-time lie often made a slow start.

It was not long, however, before Mr Hughes became infected with the very spirit of the thunderstorm that raged about the hall in which he spoke. As the lightning lashed and scared outside, so his biting phrases cut to ribbons the fallacious arguments of the Communists and f extremists. His voice vied with the thunder as it echoed throughout tho hall. His very actions were electrical as his leanveined hands and arms emphasised his arguments. He scarcely touched upon the deportation question.' But there could be no question as to where ho stood when it came to tho issue between Empire rule and Russian domination.

It was indeed a brilliant speech, and particularly telling was Mr Hughes’ reference to tho AVatersido AVorliers’ Union. During the years he led it lie said there was but one small strike. After ho left they had nothing but strikes until lately. Now they were beginning to see what fools they were.

Ves! Mr Hughes has come back! AA 7 ho could doubt it who heard him say, -‘Thero is a gulf as wide as hell between tho genuine workers and the men who are trying to thrust a dagger into tho heart of sociery.”