THE CITY MAYORALTY.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2011, 19 March 1914, Page 4

THE CITY MAYORALTY.

The representative deputation! which waited upon the Mayor of , Wellington, (M,R. X P. |,uk.r) j'estei'-' day, to urge him.to again contest Oifl Mayoralty, voiced whjH* *e believe to be a very general wish., It was recognised-when Mit, LirfcE contested the scat last year ' that his long experience as a member of the council and his close- aeqiiai.titunce ■with the affairs of the city generally ■held out hopes of useful service from him in ih« event of his. . closttoH. This oxpcctatiim has teen .filly real- ; isod, and, .in additick, Sift- Luk : e has e.ome through a- lDGi'ipd of trial and stfnss in a ?)i.a..nner which, has added ■still further to his standing in Mttfjhc esteem, and has pJacwt {.he city Ktitler a distinct obligation t.o him for the eocvlob he rendered. During the trying time of the si.'ifcu disorders, Jin. Lijke carried a very heavy rcsptmdhilit.y, and jto thoughtful and unbiased citi;;en can fail to rocognis* that he .acquitted himself with.courage and sound judgment. He dealt .fivinly and «My with t-lio many difficult situations wMi which ho in his official capacity .fotijid Ti'imsaft confronted, a.jul gwatly .assisted.! the awthflritos in the steps taken for J the suppression of viottnp; and'violence, and in the nrcservfttion of law and order. $ 0 far, tho only candidates in the field ara. H«. ■&. %,- land, tho notjiiiicfi of the, SocialDftmocratjc Party, and Sfiu Bavid Bl'UaeN. tij-s nowiiKG -of tho fivited • labour Party. Mil. HpT.'uiw, we■should say, is liardlv likely td moes with support outside, tho tanks of oocjal - Democrat-Red-Federation circles. The part he played as a strike leader is not likely to win him the eaiifidcnco of ciiifcws wfcrisijiiy. On tbs other hand, Mil, bnckwarflaess at « critical stage of the striiw, when the 'leaders of mod-, orate labour unionism fiiighfc Jxav'c doae useful service by comins oivt into the open in artivo o-pposition to , thft violent methods of tfe Rr-d Fed* . oration, will most certainly tell against him in eirclos Where he previously mei with support. M l e do not for onn moment wish to'conviey the impression that MR. las the least sympnthy with theilod Fodorn-timi or it? methods, Sudl wft l)i?lwvc is not thfj caw. tint si.fc a critical stage of the.strike, when attempts were being matfo h> cmb:<oil J the moderate sectwii of trades ttnionj ism, a,'id when 51 n. REAnSON boldly I nm\ wisely .warnwl his felliuy.nnion'l ists ef-tha fojlv of ci»broilin(j thoiiisßlves, Mr. M'Laken was to remain in thn barfrttftjund. Mis appearance ia pnlilic \vas dpfrrted uittil the final nf the sintgglc, wlwn tiiß Foriens trouble had practically ciuM. WhiiidTCr view mav lie iakn of i'ls attitude:, liowovsir, it is JMfclly likely fefc ejifer Mr. M'Larent or his rival Lahom-Swci:-], ist leader, Mr. would prove spfious owponehts iti the- event of Mn. Luke offering himself far reelection.