CONGRATULATIONS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 143, 6 March 1918, Page 6

CONGRATULATIONS

AT THE CIVIC BOARD. The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) was the recipient of congratulations at the meeting of the City Council last evening.

Councillor AV. H. P. Barber, in voicing the congratulations of the .council on Mr. Luke's return as member for AVellington North, said- that his success was no doubt largely due to the satisfactory manner in which he had conducted the affairs of the city for a number of years. Exceptional duties and responsibilities had devolved upon him, and it was the recognition of tho able and self-denying administration under those exceptional circumstances which had helped him to attain success. (Hear, hear.) In the performance of those extraordinary duties, ho had had a valuable helper in Mrs. Luke, whose energy and devotion to the boys leaving New Zealand to fight the battles of the Empire had earned for her the esteem of a very large' section of the community. Ho thought tho selection made by the electors of AVellington North was a wise one, and was sure that Mr. Luke would do credit to himself and the city of AVellington. Ho could assure Mr. Luke that he had the good wishes of all the councillors in his new 'activities, and any assistance they could render him in the carrying out of his dual duties would be readily and willingly given. (Applause.) Mr. Luke thanked , Mr. Barber for the sentiments and good feeling he had expressed on behalf of the councillors. He was fully sensible of the added responsibilities ho was assuming, and was thankful for the good wishes that were so helpful. He had had some experience of Parliamentary life—not so long as he had anticipated or would have liked—but they all had their ups and downs in life. Ho appreciated what Councillor Barber had said about tho city's affairs, and said that it- was not so much himself but a united City Council which had achieved so much for tho city during the past few years. If energy and the giving-up of one's time was assessed in tho scale, he could say that the work'had not been neglected, and in that respect much was due to tho principal officers of the council. In that regard the city not only had men who were, whole-souled in their interest in tho city's affairs, but' who carried out their work in a very able manner. Ho could say the same of the men in tho council's employ, whoso work was good because of the high standard set by the officers. His had been a very pleasant association with the council on tho administrative side of affairs. If he had been able in any small, way to further tho interests of tho boys going to the fron' ho had been amply repaid'. He thanked Councillor Barber for the references ho had niado to Mrs. Luke, who was only doing her duty like many other women in New Zealand. (Applause.)