THE ELECTION CONTEST

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 136, 26 February 1918, Page 8

THE ELECTION CONTEST

FOR WELLINGTON NORTH

ALL FOUR CANDIDATES IN ACTION

MR. LUKE IN MOLESWORTH STREET.

Mr. Luke spoke in the Methodist schoolroom, Molesworth Street, last evening. There was a £ood attendance, over which Mr. H. J. Murdoch presided. Mr. Luke said that he was the Government nominee, but was not an apologist for all the actions- of the Government. However, he felt that ho would like to say that ho reckoned the Government had done well. All our troops had been transported without disaster, and that could not have been said unless the administration was careful. Our military camps were equal to any in the world, and the treatment of the New Zealand soldier was highly creditable. He was anxious to do all that he could to help the returned soldiers, and he would do all possible to re-establish them in the community.. Not all returned soldiers were suited to farming, and not all of them should be sent to the backblocks. He wished to sec the returned soldiers secure a fair deal, and he would do his best to that end. He thought that the pensions scale at present was fair, but provision should be made for men who, though they were now reckoned to _be well, might break down later on in life as a result of their war efforts. Notwithstanding that we were at war we must not slacken our efforts to improve matters' in the sphere of education. Ono much-needed reform was better payment of teachers. This was necessary in order to attract the most suitable people into the teaching profession. Mr. Luke said that he had had considerable experience in politics, and knew the needs of the people well. He wished to represent this electorate, and he thought that the people would elect him. The outstanding feature of the elettjin was whether New Zealand was going to continue to do its part in the war. Mr. Luke' was thanked for his address.