“MISFORTUNE” HUGHES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19139, 7 October 1936, Page 11

“MISFORTUNE” HUGHES

MINISTER’S NEW TITLE

CHAPTER OP ACCIDENTS

SYDNEY, Sept. 28.

Mr. W. M. Hughes believes that in future he will be .known as William “Misfortune” Hughes. He said so on Saturday when, as Minister for Health, he opened a new wing at Furlough House, Narrnbecn, the holiday home for members of the A.I.F. and their families. “Some people used to call me William Morris Hughes,” said Mr. Hughes, “now they have changed the Morris to ‘Misfortune.’

“In the past few months T have been a star performer in a head-on motor collision. I have been violently thrown out of a Ministry, precipitated from an aeroplane, and stricken by influenza. I have survived all these, and hero I am, the Minister for Health.”

Mr. Hughes said that he was the outward and visible sign ot the promise made years ago that Australia would do for the soldiers what the soldiers had done for Australia. lie was head of the Government which laid the foundation of a repatriation system which was the best in the world. Recent amendments of the Act had brought comfort and happiness to thousands of men afflicted with tuberculosis, prematurely aged, and unemployable. Furlough 'House, which owed nothing to the Government, had stood for years offering happiness to thousands whose lot was cast in drab and sordid surroundings, where many were struggling desperately to maintain a foothold. In this home they received, not the cold bread of charity, but the welcome given to guests. He appealed to the people of the State to give their financial support to the movement.'