AFTER THL BATTLE

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

AFTER THL BATTLE

MR'. J. P. LUKE, M.P.. ENTERTAINS HIS COMMITTEE 4r ™ J £" J, P- Luke > the Ile,r member for AVellington North, celebrated the victory of last week by entertaining in the Masonic Hall, Boulcott Street, last night, the members of his committee and his other friends who had. helped to secure his return. Mr. and Mrs. Luke entertained some 150 guests, and the company spent a most pleasant evening. Captain Barclay presided. It happened that Mr. Luke was unable to be present during the whole of tho evening, because it was tho night for the meeting of the City Council, which meeting he had to attend. The programme consisted of some good music, and a. few very short speeches by gentlemen who had shown prominent interest or borne prominent parts in the campaign. The party who supplied the music wero Miss Ethel Smith, Miss F. M. Barry, Miss Stapleton, and Messrs. H. F. AVood, Byron Brown, and Hamilton Hodges. Speeches were delivered by /the chairman, Mr. J. Hutcheson, Mr. H. F. von Haast, Dr. Newman, M.P., the Hon. D. H. Guthrio, and the Right Hon.' AV. f! Massey. All the speakers congratulated Mr. and Mrs. Luke on the victory gained, and referred lightly to some or other of the events or issuos of the fight. Mr. Massey spoke of the importance of the victory to tho whole of New Zealand, and ho made a serious remark or two about the affairs which he might be required to discuss when he goes to England this year. Chief among those he mentioned the importance of tho retention of Samoa, for the reason that the group was the strategic key to tho South Pacific-. He was most emphatic in his declaration that the islands must never go back to Germany.

After tho music and the speeches there was supper in an adjoining room, and last of all Mr. Luko spoke his thanks and congratulations to his committee, and the energetic band of workers who had assisted. The National Anthem was sung before the gathering dispersed.