POLITICAL QUARREL

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 46, Issue 14141, 11 June 1920, Page 5

POLITICAL QUARREL

HUGHES-WATT EPLSODE. , MR WATT’S VERSION, Press -Association—Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Australian, pnd N.Z. Cable Association) (Received Friayd, 9.25 u.m.) LONDON, Thursday. Replying to the press cables from Melbourne, in which Mr Hughes denies knowledge of Mr Watt ’s resignation, the. latter informs, the Australian Press Association that Mr Hughes knows alLthe circumstances of the resignation. “Frequent, cables passed between us during the last fortnight,” stales Mr Watts. “Mr Hughes received my cabled resignation on the 24th, before it was announced to the press.” Mr Watt, 'questioned regarding the disagreement regarding the- wool scheme informed the Australian Press Association that there is a lot more behind the resignation than the wool business. Matters have been approaching a crisis for a fortnight past. 1

Mr Watt added that ho would not say another word. He was 1 leaving his hotel-to-day and disappearing into the void, leaving no address. He is taking a long holiday, which he much needs.

r HUGHES’ SPHINX-LIKE ATTITUDE. (Received Friday, 10.55 a,in.) SYDNEY, This Day. - Mr 4V. if. Hughes stilt preserves a .Sphinx-like attitude?. rospectijig t J;£r Watts’ resignation. He states that nothing is officially before him,i and he is. reserving his • mini meat until later. Meanwhile lie is rabbit-shooting at Wagga. In Melbourne Mr Watts’..dramatic resignation is regretted, but he is blamed by liis.colleague#forprecipitafing it. Tt is suggested that Mr Watt: sought Cabinet’s acquiescence in a certain direction, intimating that he would va■'cate- the Treasurefship unless it was forthcoming. ... Acquiescence being refused her■.resignation-.:followed as a mutter of conrse. . ... : The actuating motives are' so is* largely speculative. * ■ i PRESS COMMENT. (Received Friday, 9.25 a.in.) LONDON, Thursday. The Financial News, in a leader entitled “AA’att's Tt Mean?’’ says: “ The resignation may create an awkward position. as it leaves the financial negu-.tint-ions in the air. Whatever.may be the result of Ins action on sympathetic ■ colleagues in the Hughes’ Cabinet, this is a .pity, because the. negotiations were ofothe first importance. Possibly, some statement as to the exact nature of the strain between ■'■Messrs Hughes and. Watt may’ 'shortly‘ be made.” j\ -i. ===== 1 1: