NAPIER BREAKWATER.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 434, 17 February 1909, Page 5

NAPIER BREAKWATER.

SPEECH BY Mil. J. P. LUKE, M.P. (di TisuiQaira—srsciAL comiEsroNDENT.) Napier, February 16. :' A. mass meeting as a public protest against tho defeat of tho Napier Harbour Board loan proposals was held in tho Theatre Royal last evening. Tho theatro was crowded with an audience thoroughly representative of the commercial interests of the town, and the proceedings wore characterised .by a unanimity of feeling which afforded striking proof of the hold'.that the n uch discussed breakwater has upon the popular mind. One'unexpected incident in the meeting evoked theenthusiasm .of tho large audience. When one of the principal motions had been; moved and,spoken to, a gentleman in the frortt portion of tho honso rose , and craved the indulgence of ; the assemblage. He said he was a'strangef to. Napier,.- but knew the place many years ago. . Tho speaker was proceeding 'when some interruption caused , him; to say that if the meeting did riot desire to hear him, he would sit down. Amidst cries of "Go onl" and an appeal by the:chairman' (Mr. J. Vigor Brown, M.P.), to : give' the speaker a'fair hearing, the unknown visitor said/ that; ;; he would get ; up on the . platform; This* remark was. greeted with loud applause, and the .stranger, stepping on the stage, held a , whispered , conversation witli the chairman, which led Mr. Brown to rise arid announce that the gentleman, who wished to' address the 'meeting was Mr. J. P. Luke, M.P;' for Wellington; • Suburbs'.; "; The ■'revealing- of Mr. identity Avas the signal for; furtn-Jr': prolonged applause. His speech was; listened to- with keen . attentien.; Mr. Luke, after a reference to the Wellington borrowing proposals, said;' that' he had .just, been on a visit, to;,Grisborne,, and. he Was surprised to find in tho twentieth century the. people of ; a for 20 years/voting against a' .drainage system. He had.comei away from Gisborne thinking that the ( .people there had; no '.right. appreciation •of citizenship,, when they, would vote against sanitary conveniences such.as a drainage system provided. 'No matter, however, what scheme was; placed' before the peoplo just now, - the r present financial.. stringency operated . against it.; .Thero : .was a'considerable amount of -funk -in .; this' ■ country;; which should not r be experienced. - He" advised the '.Napier ; 'not--'-to. worry about the constitution of their Harbour Board, because if the loan proposals were again put before 'tho people, he felt sure, tho board would got- the money to carry .out tho\necessary work. Mr.' Luke returned/to.■ Wellington by the mail train this morning. , /,