This point was strongly noted by Justice Heydon of the Industrial Arbitration Court during a session in late August that year.

The Sydney Morning Herald of August 20 reported the following:

"There were 60 summonses before Mr Justice Heydon in the Industrial Arbitration Court yesterday wherein the defendants were called upon to show cause why penalties should not be imposed upon them for taking part in strikes at the C.B.R. company's works and at Messrs Budge and Co.

"Mr Chubb, who appeared for the Ministry for Labour and Industry, asked leave to withdraw the whole of the cases and his honour consented to this course being taken.

"His honour said that 'a short time ago I had occasion to make some remarks on the general attitude of contempt for the law and the necessity thrown upon this court of changing its practices. Almost immediately the war broke out and an entirely different tone at once was felt in the community. We all found ourselves to be fellow-citizens and, as fellow citizens of the empire, in standing up against the very great danger that has suddenly come upon us'.

"I think one of the most gratifying results of that was the way in which all classes among us, however opposed to one another ordinarily, dropped all causes of difference and stood side-by-side.

"There is a new spirit amongst us and I think a part of it is a feeling that bygones should be bygones. I am very glad to infer that the Minister has taken that view."

The same edition reported on a recent visit to the country by Lord Kitchener. The journalist noted that the eminent military leader had two prepared speeches, a long one and a short one, for deputations who waited on him at train stops.

"The long speech was 'I thank you, Mr Mayor, for your cordial welcome'. The short one was 'I thank you'."

If brevity is the soul of wit, then Kitchener was one funny guy.