In a moment of possible irritation the Prime Minister replied the other day to his many critics who keep demanding that- he should economize. TEconomy, they say, is the only legitimate way in which we can reduce our national debt. It-mav he true that the value of the sovereign is still 50 per cent. below what it was before the war, but the critics demand that somehow the cost of the public service shall be reduced—and that without lowering wages or giving any-one the sack.
Said Mr. Hughes, just before the famous Spring racing carnival, "The Melbourne people ask for economy. If you could see their god, he would be found to take the form of a horse. They bet, they live in the best hotels, they use mo-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.