CARTOON - THE WATCH DOG

This cartoon comments on the detail of Prime Minister William 'Billy' Hughes's National cabinet in 1921. William Alexander Watts, a MP from Victoria, had joined the Hughes National government in November 1916 as the minister for works and railways and in 1918 took up the position of Treasurer. From April 1918 - August 1919 he was also acting Prime Minister while Hughes was in England as part of the discussions relating to the end of the war. While Hughes was away Watt delivered an austerity budget which included curbing spending, trying to reduce state rights and raising taxes. During this time he also started to fall out with Hughes because Hughes was making decisions for the nation with no consultation with the national cabinet.
Watt responded by making more decisions without consulting Hughes including making a positive statement about Japan, who Hughes had a very negative and offensive attitude towards. In the 1920s Watt travelled to England to participate in financial negotiations. Hughes immediately started a series of trade negotiations without informing Watt of what was happening. In June 1920 Watt resigned as treasurer. On his return in parliament he accused Hughes of trying to sabotage him and destroy his political career.
During this time Watt was considered as the most likely candidate to be the next Prime Minister. Hughes's national popularity was dropping and Watt used this to openly attack Hughes and his policies and refusing to attend cabinet meetings. The Western Mail on 28 April 1921 on page 16 reported 'Mr. Watt has already indicated that he will regard it as his special duty to keep an eye on the finances and he for one does not regard himself as pledged to support the Ministry in all circumstances. Although treated as a member, of the Ministerial Party and supplied with notices of all meetings of the party. Mr. Watt does not attend them and only retains his locker in the party room because no other accommodation is available.'
Watt's actions during this time were not popular with other members of the government and slowly isolated Watt. When Hughes's was deposed as Prime Minister in 1923 by Stanley Bruce, Bruce made moves to sideline Watt by making his speaker of the house, a position he excelled at and held for nearly 3 years.