MR. HUGHES RESIGNS

Taranaki Daily News, 7 November 1935, Page 5

MR. HUGHES RESIGNS

DISORDERLY SCENES ATTITUDE TO SANCTIONS EXPLANATION IN HOUSE PRIME MINISTER ANGERED By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 10 p.m. Canberra, Nov. 6. Mr. W. M. Hughes, a member of the Federal Cabinet, handed his resignation to the Prime Minister to-day. The resignation was asked for in view of opinions regarding sanctions expressed by Mr. Hughes in a book recently published. Later when the House met the Prime Minister, Mr. J. A. Lyons, attempted to make a statement, but when Labour members objected the Speaker refused him permission. Considerable disorder followed. Mr. Lyons, greatly angered, resumed his seat and the debate on the .sanctions Bill was taken up. Mr, Hughes thus obtained his chance to explain his attitude. He intimated that he had intended to support the measure. He quoted lengthily from his book, “Australia and the War To-day,” and claimed that the book was written chiefly with the object of arousing Australians to a realisation of the danger in which the'country stood. He denied that his attitude with regard to the League was incompatible with that of the Government. The lesson he sought to drive home, said Mr. Hughes, .was that it would be most dangerous to rest calmly in the belief that the League could always preserve peace. He was prepared to stand or fall by that statement. “Surely,” he added, “it is a pious hope to expect Mussolini to be turned from his path by a mere gesture.” Mr. Curtin, Leader of the Opposition, contended that Mr. Hughes had been unfairly treated. His attitude was that of any other thinking person—that an economic blockade to be effective must be backed by force, which would inevitably lead to war.

Mr. Lyons tabled the correspondence between himself and Mr. Hughes, and the debate on the motion for printing this correspondence was adjourned.