MR. LUKE TO STAND FOR MAYORALTY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 157, 28 March 1919, Page 8

MR. LUKE TO STAND FOR MAYORALTY

HIS DIFFICULT POSITION

EXPLAINED

FREE OF EMBARRASSMENT

At noon yesterday a deputation, consisting of between forty and titty citizens, waited on Mr. J. P. Luke at the Town Hall, and through Mr. John Hutchcson expressed their desire that Mr. Luke would once more offer himself as a candidate for the ofiice of Mayor at the coming election. Mr. Iluteheson said, in introducing tlio deputation, that Mr. Luke was not to accept the numerical size of the deputation us any kind of indication of the number of citizens who desired that he should be urged to accept nomination for a further term of ofiice. There were many others whose duties forbade them being present, among them Mr. Clement Watson, Mr. John Smith, sen., Mcsdames Karle and Dimock. Ho wished to make it quite clear that the deputation represented no organisation of any kind. They wero all present simply in their capacity as citizens and electors. They all knew how short a term public gratitude usually spelt. It was the same to-day as in the day of tlio Lowly Nazarene—extol him to-day ;.nd crucify him to-morrow. Ho had to say that in view of the gigantic work Mr. Luke and his better half had done for the city and the citizens during the most strenuous period of our municipal history. Only those who had been closely associated with them daily could have the slightest conception of what that work had been, but they knew its effect. Ho had not come there with any desire to make an oration, or pay well-merited compliments, much less to flatter, but they had come with the serious purpose of influencing Mr. Luke's mind in making a decision, out of deference to tlio wishes of the great mass of tlio people. They wanted him to accept their advice and accept nomination for another term of office. Though Mr. Lukfe had been six years in office, he had not reached the valedictory yet. "The Willin' Horse Maun Gang." There were any amount of carping critics, who bvlieved in the old Scots savin? that "the wiilin' horse _ maun gang." So the work had been <piled on the Mayor and Mayoress, until, the excess of duties become almost superhuman. Some there were who said Hint many of

those duties did not' appertain to the office of Mayor, but because he had taken it on more power to his elbow. (Applause.) They wanted hip'—the williiw horse—to lead them over the homeward lap to the green fields of ppaco and prosperity. (Applause.) They said, and s-iid it clearly and unequivocally, that this -was not a time to put a man in charge who did not even know the goods on the shelf. He regarded it as unwise and ungrateful in those people who would compel Mr. Luke to undergo a bitter and acrimonious fight in this election. It was their right and their duty, until they -came to settled days of peace, to ask Mr. Luke to lake another term of office. He would recommend that a.leaven of new blood in tho council was much move needed than' a now Mayor. (Applause.) Thsy seriously asked Mr. 'Luke to consider standing for another term of office, no matter what combination might be put up agaiiist him.

No Apprentice Wanted. Mr. A. K. Hislop said 110 had only heard by accident that morning of the deputation. If it had been known in the city that a deputation was to wait on tho Mayor the Concert Chamber would have been needed, or perhaps even the larger hall. He felt that 'Wellington at the present juncture waited a man who understood tho position—who knew the goods upon tho shelf—who knew what we had and what we were likely to expect. Thev wanted no apprentice in charge. He hoped Mr. Luke would stand for another term of office. Mrs. Clapham testified to the great and noble work Mrs. Luke had dono during the war period nnd the epidemic-work they all appreciated very much. Dr. Piatts-Mills spoke of Mrs. Luke s indomitable energy and self-sacrifice, olie had only been associated with her chiefly during the epidemic, and she would never forget the. faithful work Mrs. Luke did ana how she encouraged it in others. Mr. and Mrs. J/ukc had been through a difficult time, and it was ouly a fair thing that they should carry on'the work to its natural conclusion. She felt that with the lessons of tho war and the epidemic they would be able to instigate forward movements having for their object the benefit of the citizens as a, whole. I (Applause.)

Mr. Luke's ReplyMr. Luke said he felt himself to be in a dilemma. He had often said at home how embarrassed he felt when having compliments paid him, and his wife had felt the after all it was only for doing their duty as tnuji 6aw it. He had been very fortunate in his wife—in having one who was so practical and one with community of heart. < She had been a worthy helpmate 011 tho more human side of the citv's affairs, and he could assure them tluit if Mrs. Luke ran for the ojfice ho would be one of her most zealous supporters. (Applause and laughter.) His feelings were mixed. After six years of office he could not offer himself to the citv. That would have been pure selfishness. But if the people appreciated tho work he Lad done, then the call for him to stand for another term of office should come from thorn. He and his wife had had a lot of strenuous work, and he had to consider his wife s health, and he maintained that a Mayor could not attend to the-many and varied functions appertaining to the office so well without as with a wife, though; in making that statement, he reforred to the Hon. J. G. W. Aitkcn, a much-loved and rcspected ex-Mayor. It was said in tho course of a public statement by a candidate that he had made a promise, and that lie was to "keep off the grass." He admitted that he had said to councillors that they should all qualify for 'the chair. Thore was 111 one case an embargo or impediment, and lie had said .that until that impediment was removed tho councillor in question was not likely to attain tho office of Mayor. He did not want to Tcmain in office five minutes longer than the peoplo wanted him to. His feeling wasthat the people did not know tho amount of work and responsibility entailed in carrying out the duties. He would not like to go through another epidemic for all the wealth in New Zealand, and how his wife got through her duties was more than ho could tell.

A Difficult Position. " The position was tery difficult foi' liiui. His heart was as strong for tho working man as that of any tjorkiug man. He would liku to see bettor housing and something more done for the young people—life was not all roads and bridges. He had tnken office just before the strike. Then came the war, and aftor that thtf epidemic. • Still, a man could only do what lay within his capacity! but he could do little unless he got the backing of his council and tlio community in order to raise the monoy for the' improvements / ecessarv. "I'm willing to fight the election it it is a fair go with Labour," said M.r. Luke, "but not if it is a triangular duel. I do not think that honest, sane Labour will oppose me. I'm quite willing to fWit tho election, a.nd to light it in the spirit that I represent l.ot only a faction, but as tho representative or the whole of t'lin citv. . . . When a deputation such as this one comes to anyone, one is apt to ask oneself whether, one has lived up to what. Mm speakers have said, and in a. way it placed one under the responsibility of living up to tlie standard set. If I fall short in that it mil not be for the want of trying wn my nart. ... I leave myself in your hands. I am not embarrassed by any promise or any pledge, a.nd if m.v wife will airren I will' do my best to win out." (Applause.) ' All "Mr.in Body" Folk. Mr, Hulchcson said lio had no author, ity from anyone, but he assumed that those who were present had not come out for a walk. He took it that they know what was wanted and were pro-

pared to do il. In other words tlioy would see it through. They were nil "main body" folk—they were in at Hie first and would coino out last. lld wished to say that ho had (in arranging the deputation) received no hint from Mr. Luke, nor had any influence been brought to bear on him. He shot, dead plain ahead, that if someone did not move things were going to 'happen. JJis own womenfolk had asked him why he did not make a move, but he felt, disinclined lor the rolo of "ward bo*s." He had luid enough of it years ago, but when he saw that no effort was being made, there was no other thins fur il. Thoro was tlio nucleus of a committee present.

On Using caliwl upon, Mrs. Luke llia.uked everyone for tho honour which had been conferred upon her husband anil for the kind things said about herself. .As for doing her duty—well, she had given that promise in 1880. Whenever lie (the Mayor) was out to do anything for the good of the people ,'iho was out to liolp him. She. oould never have accomplished what she had but for Hie splendid help of tlio women of 'Wellington, whoso heartstrings had been pulled by the sacrifices demanded by the war. She would always try to do her pa.nt right a.? a wife, and if her husband wok to bo Mayor—there was not sroing to be any oilier Mayoress. (Laughter and applause.) On the motion of Mr. Hulohfpc-n, Mr. A. R. ITislop was .appointed secretary, ond all those present were enrolled as members of Mr. I.ukr/s campaign cornmil tee.