THE ISSUE IN WELLINGTON NORTH

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 124, 12 February 1918, Page 8

THE ISSUE IN WELLINGTON NORTH

Sir—ln justice to those coucerned will you aiiow me to say a few words in reply to "Nurtlilantl" and "Hugh Mackenzie" in this morning's Dominion? 1 isavu no ncfcii io ueteutt uie J'rime Minister—hu can speak for himself in good vigorous Anglo-Saxon about the meaning of which there can bo .no mistake. "Northland" sugests that Mr. Brandon wili be elected. Let me tell him this: Mr. Brandon has not a million to one -hance. He will get votes in Ilobson Street, and some, perhaps, in Kelburn, but lie will not even get the votes of the. party which is really responsible for Ins candidature, and which is represented by Mr. SievwrHit and Mr. Myers. I'he danger is however, that lie may take away a sufficient number of votes from Mr. Luke to l>ave that gentleman defeated and leave Wellington North, to the eternal disgrace of being represented by an opponent of conscription, and an opponent of most other things that are helping to win the war unci that tend to the solidarity of the Empire. If that happens (winch, Heaven forbid!) Wellington North would in proportion to its size be in the saraa position as the Commonwealth alter turning down the conscription proposals—a district to be locked lipo i with pity mid scorn by the reat ol the impire, but a jcy and a delight to Germans on both sides of the world. Mr. Hadfield, as the spokesman of the deputation which waited upon Mr. Brando)i, says tho invitation was not msti- , gated by the Liquor L'arty. He may not know it, but we can easily imagine Mr. Sicvwrigiit and his friends in the background with the . strings in their hands, and which they have probably pulled to /their. om\ iimloiiH!. Then Mr. Mackenzie tries to damn Mr. Luke with faint praise, but it would be well for him if lie and .some of the other professors at the Uniycisity Mood a , ' high in the estimation of their fellow-citizens as does Mr. Luke to-day. THe plain trntoi m that tbt Vii'to'ria College is, so far xi its teaching staff .'is concerned, the most unptip'jlar jiiistitutinn in \V'ntlii:s;tou at ' tlii's datfi, and the cause is not fnr to : seek. lit Mr. Mackenzie tal;e the beam from his own eye before _ ho looks for I wsites in the eyes- of his felloiv-citi- ••?:•.?. After readinn; his pfftision ».ud I -ili of "Northland" I could not help t , .!''vki»g Ihat if it iivt'e possible for the iViviour of mankind ii bcconie a fiWL'We for Wellington North He vatili in some quarfcei'E be sneered at

and found fault with as being of humble origin, and therefore a very common individual, unworthy to represent Wellington Norch in Parliament. There is> no man without fault, and Mr. Luke is no eswption, but we can say of him, and correctly, that there is no man in New Zealand who has worked as hard .uid as successfully to assist in winning the wnr and benefiting our soldiers sis Mr. Luke, and there- is no woninn in New Zealand who has done- half so much in the same , direction as- Mrs. Luke. I wish John Luke every success, and when he becomes M.1 , , for Wellington North,.with all thu experience he has had as Mayor of tin , , city, I believe most of iiis present iletrnrtors will bo sorry for their :iltit'.irl° in this election, And some of them will be honest enough to say so. —I am, etc., HANK AND I'ILE". February 11, iiilcj.