Billy Hughes: Prime Minister and Controversial Founding Father of the Australian Labor Party

Milton Qld.: John Wiley and Sons Australia, 2005. Soft cover. As New. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. William Morris Hughes was Labor Prime Minister in 1915 - 16, then was expelled from the party over his support for conscription. He held two referendums on the issue, convinced that only compulsory reinforcements of troops overseas would win the war. After his expulsion, Hughes formed the Nationalist Party and remained Prime Minister until 1923. In 1918-19 Hughes travelled to England and headed the Australian delegation at Versailles for the signing of the peace treaty in 1919. He was again in England in 1921 for an Imperial conference. Hughes was popularly known as 'the little Digger' for his leadership of the nation throughout the war. But after the formation of the Country Party, Hughes was unable to retain support in the House of Representatives and resigned on 9 February 1923 in favour of SM Bruce. (National Archives of Australia)