12 JANUARY 1918, Page 3

Mr. Hughes, Primo Minister of the Commonwealth, resigned office on

Tuesday. The Nationalist Party, of which he is the leader, has a large majority in both Houses of the Australian Parliament, but Mr. Hughes long ago declared his intention to resign if, as has proved to be the case, the Poll of the People in December last should be hostile to conscription. His party asked him to remain in office, but he refused. Mr. Tudor, the Leader of the Labour Opposition, is said to have advised the Governor-General to dissolve Parlia- ment. The situation looks difficult at this distance, but Australia is well accustomed to political crises.