"Hughes's achievements were magnificent. To him more than anyone the Australian Trade Union movement owes its strength. He more than anyone built up the Australian Labor Party. He helped to develop and consistently fought to preserve the Industrial Arbitration System. He was the man who transformed separatist and isolationist tendencies into a surge of Australian nationalism which insisted, not on the severance, but on the strengthening, of the Imperial connection. He was the foremost of those who created the Australian Navy, brought in universal military training, and insisted on preparedness for defence. He was an inspiring and effective War-time Prime Minister. He pushed himself and his country into the innermost councils of the Empire, became a leader with influence far beyond his own nation, and took a significant part in the Versailles Conference. From his time, and due to him, Australia began to have some slight importance in international affairs."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Norman Cowper, ‘W. M. Hughes’, The Australian Quarterly, Vol. 24, No. 4 (December, 1952), p. 7
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Billy_Hughes
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Billy Hughes
William Morris Hughes, CH, KC (25 September 1862 – 28 October 1952) was an Australian politician who served as the 7th Prime Minister of Australia, in office from 1915 to 1923. He is best known for leading the country during World War I, but his influence on national politics spanned several decades. Hughes was a member of federal parliament from Federation in 1901 until his death, the only person to have served for more than 50 years. He represented six political parties during his career, lead
51 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Billy Hughes →
Related Quotes
"[A]mongst the chief causes of this war [is] the desire of Germany to wrest from Britain her industrial and commercial…"
"He thought an economic policy could be devised that would at once hasten victory and deal with the after-war problems…"
"We are loyal to the Empire first and foremost because we are of the British race."
"[W]e believe in the British Empire because it stands for liberty; because it has given us all that we have; because i…"
"It is our duty to help the Empire in this struggle. It is indeed imperative to do so, for only by helping the Empire …"
"That party will go down to all time as the party that failed Australia in her hour of need."
"What was the economic policy of Britain going to be? It was not merely a question of a tariff; the great question, We…"
"Amongst those who are opposed to a sound economic policy are the pacifists. I am not surprised. A sound economic poli…"
"He was sick of this canting humbug about internationalism. Nationalism, not internationalism, was the policy for Brit…"
"I emphasize that...nothing short of a decisive victory will avail. Germany's military power must be utterly crushed. …"