MR. LUKE AT TINAKORI ROAD

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 132, 21 February 1918, Page 6

MR. LUKE AT TINAKORI ROAD

THE COST OF LIVING. " Mr. Matthew Murdoch occupied the chair at Mr. J. P. Luke's meeting at St. Paul's Schoolroom, Tinakori Road, last evening. There were- over a hundred present. The chairman reminded those present of tho noble work Mr. and Mrs. Luko had done for the soldiers, and as the war was the predominant interest at the present time, he commended Mr. Luke's attitude right through the campaign, and hoped they would all support him on the day of the- election. Mr. Luke stood before them as tho National Government's candidate, and, though there might be those present who were against the military policy of the Gqvermncnt, he challenged anyone in New Zealand—and he was not boastful —to name another who had done more for recruiting under the voluntary system than had the Mayor of Wellington. (Applause.) They had done all in their power to get recruits, but from the time tho .Military Act was pui; into operation the civic life of the city at the Town Hall was the centre of activity for universal service. The military system, had been very'successful, and there had been a fine response. He quoted the case of the wide acceptance of the spirit of the Act, ond instanced the. case of Mr. Hampton, the ex-secretary of one of the unions, and one of the livest Labour, secretaries ' that was ever in Wellington, who, though hs had five children, left the other day for the front. Mr. Hampton had told him that the workers had taken the Military Service Act the wrong way about —that they should have started with the older men like him. (Applause.) The Government had been blamed for mismanaging its affairs since the war broke out, but in what country had tlicre not "been dissatisfaction ; and he quoted the changes which had been made at Home. But it must be said in all fairness to the Government that they had organised a fighting force of 90,000, and sent them overseas practically without accident. (Applause.)

Sir. Luke made reference to the good work that was being done for returned soldiers by the Department, which had been under the control of Mr. Herdmau. He also re-stated his idea that returned men should not be placed on hush land, but should bn given facilities for taking up improved lands from which an immediate return could be gained. (Applause.) The cost of liviivr had been built up in spite of any Government. The British Government hud commandeered 25 per cent, of the shipping, and other shipping had been bottled up, and was it surprising that the freight charges had advanced? He. knew the shipping companies had made huge profits, but the British Government had seen to it that they had to pay taxation on those profits. The cost of living had increased less in New Zealand than in any other country. 5 According t8 the official figures, the cost had increased in New Zealand 27 per cent. In other countries the increases had been as follow: Australia (with a Labour Gov.ernment), 29 per cent.; United States, 46 per cent.; Canada, 57 per cent.; Japan, 66 per cent.; Italy, 72 per cent.; Sweden, 81 per cent.; Netherlands, 81 per cent.; United Kingdom, 102 per cent.; Germany, 109 per cent.; Norway, 110 per cent.; and Austria, 103 per cent. Referring to soldiers' pensions, Mr. Luke said that they had not yet come to the end of that great question. The Government had built up tho pensions appreciably, _ and he quoted what present-day pensions were, but it .might yet be the duty of the Government to consider the advisability of making the pensions equal to what the man was earning in civil me. (Applause.) Mr. Luke hoped the electors would show, their confidence in him by returning ilic National Government's candidate on Thursday next. At the conclusion of the meetii'g the candidate, on the motion of the chairman, was given a hearty vote cf .thanks.