FOUR TIMES MAYOR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3054, 16 April 1917, Page 6

FOUR TIMES MAYOR

MR, J. P. LUKE RETURNED

UNOPPOSED

CITIZENS' CONGRATULATIONS

Mr. John Pearce Luko has been returned unopposed as Mayor of Wellington. This means that Mr. Luke has been returned to that office four times in succession—in 1913, 1914, 1915. (for two_ years), and now for the years 1917-18. Tho completion of'this term of office will mean that he has established a record in the 'length of time the Mayoral chair has 'been occupied by one individual. The Hon. J. G. W. Aitken, M.L.C., occupied the seat for five years when the election was an annual, one, and Mr. T. W. Hislop for four years, but the termination of the present two-year term will extend Mr. Luke's period of ocoupaucy to six' years. As soon, after noon on Saturday as possible, tho Mayoral room was invaded, and ( an impromptu but very happy little congratulatory gathoring took place. Mr. J. E. .Fitzgerald, tho one member of the City Council who happened to be present, was made chairman, and ho called upon Mr. Matthew Murdoch, an esteemed excouncillor of many years' standing, and one of Mr. Luke's nominees, to formally congratulate the Mayor on his unopposed return to the office of Chief Magistrate Mr. Murdoch .referred to | the straight and manly way Mr. Luke had performed- his duties 'in "times of great stress, 'such as had been tho case during the big strike and the war. In congratulating Mr. Luke, he coupled' the name of Mrs. I/uke, whom he considered had performed wonders. ■.Mr. C. E. 'Wheeler, .who spoke on behalf of the Greater Wellington Municipal Association,, said that the. fact that Mr. Luke had been returned unopposed was a testimony to the unflagging work the Mayor and his good wire had performed day and night for the troops and that the continuity of that splendid work should be preserved. Mr. J. E. Fitzgerald, as one who had been associated with the Mayor for the past two years, felt that he' could, on behalf of the council, congratulate the Mayor on his unopposed return ix> the central position of municipal activity and interest. He was sure that all the members of the council would be de-

lighted that Mr. Luke had been so re-

turned. They had their little differences in the council, but they were never personal, and were always subsidiary to the general interest and wel-. fare of the city. During the past two years both the Mayor-and Mrs. Luke had done great work, and they had been many hours working when they should have; been at home. Theirs 'had been yeoman service) and theirs was the spirit that should permeate the whole of the British Empire.' Mrs. Luke he considered to be one of the wonders of New Zealand, in fact, she was a(better organiser than her husband. (Laughter.) Nowadays the Council Chamber reminded one of a summer sale at one of the big shops, and Mrs. Luke was there flitting about like _ a sunbeam, radiating and enlivening everyone with her wonderful spirit. (Hoar, hear.) He hoped that both Mr. and Mrs. Luke would long be spared to do as good work in the future as they had doue in the past. ' Mrs. Luke having been brought into the room, Mr. Murdoch proposed her' health, and gallantly remarked that he did not know whether Mr., Luke had been returned rather in order to havo Mrs. Luke as Mayoress than anything else. If not the top-dog—(laughter)— she was a great worker, and had done wonders. How she was able to stand it, he did not know, but it certainly did not seem to disagree with her. Mr. Murdoch/eoncluded his remarks_ by expressing the hope that by the time he had completed his term of office Mr. Luke -would have a title. (Applause.)

In reply, Mr. Luke thanked all pre•senb for their generosity and kindness in extending to him such hearty congratulations. Whilst appreciating the regard and generous feeling of everyone, he felt his own shortcomings, and was happy to see that his work and tho desire to do any duty cast upon him merited the approval of ihe citizens. To be returned -unopposed did not often occur, and tb,e gratification it had brought him would be a fresh stimulus to work in the future. (Hear, hear.) With two more strenuous years ahead of him and four behind, he could not but feel the responsibility that existed in- providing for- the needs of a growing city. To do that a man must not only seek to seoure tho greatest happiness and.comfort of the citizens, but must have sufficient vision to be able to look ahead and anticipate as well as one was able the requirements of a growing population. "Wellington was a city on the threshold, and the work done by its previous Mayors and councillors had contributed splendidly to make the city what it was to-day. Relatively speaking,. it was as well equipped as any other city in the Do-, minion, and compared very favourably with cities of its size in the Old Land. There were many things to regret. The extension of tlie city bad been limited owing to financial stress caused by tho war, and the difficulties- attendant upon getting labour had prevented that full expansion thej would have- all Jiked to have seen. Mr. Luko acknowledged in kindly terms tho assistance that had been given him by his two old friends, the Hon'. J. G. W. Aitken and Mr. Matthew Murdoch, his nominators, whose names he was sure represented a large number of right-thinking, citizens, and who had assisted him to another term to .'office. Ho also referred" to tho cordial relations which had existed between himself and the members of the council, and to the loyal support that had been given him by the City Engineer (Mr. Morton), the Town Clerk (Mr. Palmer), and other executive Officers and employees of the council. Ho was happy in acknowledging tho tributes that haid 1 been paid to Mrs. Luke, who, he believed, had the genius of organisation, and a fine disposition for earnest endeavour and the spirit to engender it in others. (Ap-, •plause:) ■ Sho had been a tremendous ■help to him, and he felt that tliere were some who would have helped him if it had' only been to have Mrs. Luke as Mayoress once more. In paying tho compliments they had to Mrs. Luke, they were honouring tho women <or Wellington, <rho had done as much as any community could possibjy do 1o heip our boys, and for their efforts were entitled to the esteem and goodwill of the people of iho British Empire. Hβ trusted that before the next two years were over the dark clouds of war that now surrounded them would be dispelled, and the bright dawn of peace would have established justice and freedom with honour.

Mrs. Luke,, in returning thanks, said that she had to take ler share jis the Mayor's wife. She especiauy thanked the couiicillors for the < considerate manner in which they had helped the good work. "We have .taken their chamber, their room, theirjocters, and what was in them.." (Councillor Fitzgerald : "That's the only thing that matters.") "It shows," continued Mrs. Luke, "that the councillors are magni-i ficent men to piit up with it, but they knew the work was, being done on liehalf of the citizens and ,themselves. I. have climbed so many stairs during tho past two and a half years that I feel I ought to he in heaven now I 1 am only sorry that some of our own boys are not here to join in 'the congratulations, hut they are fighting in France somewhere. I am now freorwe have practically given up the heme for the city." Mr. Luke proposed "Health i and Prosperity to My Colleagues on the

City Council," whom lie said had worked loyally in the carrying 1 out of their duties. Councillor Fitzgerald responded. ~Mr. J.. lt. Palmer replied on behalf of 'the staff. Mr. Luke also referred glowingly to the support Ijhat had always been given him -by the Press of the city, and enthusiastically proposed the health of .the "fourth estate," which was icsponded to 'by Mr. H. Plimmer (Dominion) and •Mr. J. Smith'("Post). ,