MR W. M. HUGHES

Otago Witness, Issue 3239, 12 April 1916, Page 7

MR W. M. HUGHES

A COMPLETE BREAKDOWN. Tho Melbourne Evening Herald publishes the following cable message from the United Service, under date Sunday, March 25: — Run down after his recent strenuous exertions, and suffering from influenza, Mr "W. M. Hughes, Prime Minister of Australia, had a fainting fit in his bathroom on Saturday evening, after his return from Cardiff. Mr Hughes had not been feeling well, but believed that he had regained his vitality toward the end of the week. His recovery, however, was evidently fictitious.

Ho had to rush to catch the Cardiff train on Friday, and had no rest while travelling. He was overwhelmed with the rapturous reception given to him in Wales, and felt so indisposed that he went to bed at tho end of the afternoon reception. He rose to attend the evening function, and, without partaking of any food, delivered a wonderful emotional speech, which exhausted his last slender reserve of vigour. He returned to his hotel in a prostrate condition. On Saturday morning he awoke after a restless night, very fagged, and undertook some arduous work while in the train. He reached London in a jaded state, and went to bed immediately to get some rest before attending the banquet of the National Seamen's and Firemen's Union. He rose later on to prepare for it, but obviously was unfit to do so.

Ho disappeared into the bathroom, and his prolonged absence alarmed the members of his party, who made a search and discovered him in a fainting fit on tho floor.

Harley street specialists declare that there is nothing organically wrong, but say that he is greatly run down owing to his prodigious labours. They ordered an instant cessation of work. Mr Hughes is amazed at his own collapse. He assured the doctors that such a thing had happened only once before, and it was during a coal strike.

The specialists were adamant, and said ' that Mr Hughes must cancel his social en- j gagements and reduce his other engagements to a mimimum in order to give his system a chance to recover its tone. Mr j Hughes protested, but agreed to remain in } bed. 3 . .

Mr Hughes's indisposition has excited the widest sympathy in Eritain.