MR, LUKE ASKED TO RETIRE

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1304, 6 December 1911, Page 7

MR, LUKE ASKED TO RETIRE

BY THE PREMIER. AN INDIGNANT REFUSAL. The fact was incidentally elicited at Mr. J. P. Luke's meeting at Karori last ovoniug that ho had been asked by Sir Joseph Ward to retire from the contest for tho Suburbs seat, in favour of another candidate, and that ho bad indignantly refused. The matter was raised when one of his auditors asked Mr. Luko the , following question:— "In the event of a vote of no-confidenco in the Ward Ministry being proposed, how would you vote?"

In replying, Mr. Luke stated that, about a fortnight ago, Sir Joseph Ward lind sent for him, and asked him to stand aside for another candidate, who was standing for the Suburbs scat. He had absolutely refused to countenance Ruch a proiwsal, and considered that it was an insult to him after the piibli-. service he had rendered to the city and country in civic and national politics. He would vote to remove the prt.-ent Government from office, and fill their place from men elected to represent tho Liberal party in Parliament. My. Luke added that he considered that Sir Joseph Ward was now a e.log on the Dominion's prosperity. Mr. Luke's latest utterance is of interest in view of his liitherto friendly attitude towards the pnrty in power, and in comparison vjith statements he has made during the present campaign. Mr. Luke is reported to have, said at Berhampore on November 23, in answer to a question as to whether he would voto against the. Government on a no-confidonce motion, that if the occasion raised the interest of good government and true Liberalism lie would do so, but ho would not vote to put tho Opposition into power. He believed another Liberal Government would succeed the present occupants of the Treasury benches.

At Wadestowu on November 20 Mr. Luke predicted that tho outcome of the elections would bo that a greater hope would possess tho people. "A well entrenched position would enable tho Governmont to carry out legislation making for progress and happiness. Breaches in tho ramparts would soon be mended and tho flag that bad borne tho breezes for years past •touM bp stretched to (he full in a mighty gale, of strong public opinion."