The Chronicle LEVIN. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1915. GRESLEY LUKIN.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 14 September 1916, Page 2

The Chronicle LEVIN. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1915. GRESLEY LUKIN.

In tlio lute Ure.sley Lukin, Nov Zealand joirn aXsm li;j« lost a Jeadei iio stood ior the best spiritoori r journ •d!libin: that ol lainic«s above all else but one who stood for mLiny liece.ssan additional qualities as well. Journal i.-ts h'Jjo graduated uik.V-i- him are ii leading positions to-day throughou -\u.s'tralaisi«i. and hits impress is upon al c-l them in rogird to fairness at least ''•-.iine- appreciative references to tin late editor were made in the liurrict note that we attached to die tele-gran' i:i . .ir i.<-*uo i,i J uesd.iy thut gact the news of Mr. Lukin's death; bu) the rursh ol work at'raching to dailj .jo u 1 i./!liism in country offices always if such as t-o preclude one Irom writing as fully as one desires when .spepia; occasion makes effort eon.- am ore. The appreciation of (irosley Lukin'fc noot; work .and lirdlv alUr-ibutes was as fill a tribute to him as we could- make ii in the time at on ■ disposi.il and the space limitation tlinic was upon us. but we omitted: to refer to his sterling worth ;:.s a democrat:;' judge and observer and helper of the world and its affairs, beyond such as wtis conveved in our closing fct-npc: that "lie was liberal at heart in all eirounnstancofi, and h ; .s i atiojis always were liltruist'e. whatever political necessity mi",lit imi:r:se upon his et'fton'nl entty.'' To-day we are pleased to sot: in our variou- contemporaries a consensus of keenly appreciative reference to the many excellent qualities of this most lovable and loyal-hoai-ted J man from -amongst New Zealand's leading journalists; and through all ■the. tributes; there ninrs a vein of uninc.stnkn.ble homage to hi* vigorous, manly attributes quite apart from the respect he won by his natural geniality. His good works are covered up in the anonymity rhat is journalism's strongest or weakest part, according to the maimer of its administration : but always to his intimates he will remain a prove! strong man who judged conditions in the varied lights of conflicting public opinions, and gave a lead of strength or of tentative quality as occasion mi rlir dentin' 1 .. Like the editors , of all meat newspapers, he had to | administer a great commercial concern from the noints of view of the various ' int.•tvstv-: involved in it, but he never subordinated true principles of publ'c interest to the seeming needs of a.nv coterie, and undoubtedly his journal was for this ivvsou a better commercial property, as well as an. infinitely more respected mouthpiece of public opinion, than it would, have been had its head been subservient to the influences that at times manifest themselves in every daily newspaper. ; lii Tuesday's Evening Post -appeared three fine inrtielos on that newspaper's late chief that are worthy of perusal by all of our reader*; we forbear to quote from them, as piecemeal quotation would mar -theni. The Christeliurch Evening Xews also minkes some

j interesting and appreciative comments 'on the deceased journalist, with a 1 .special reference to his personal atj tributes. We quote tho concluding paragraph:—".Newspaper men all over j the dominion will regret sincerely the ! death of .Mr Gresly Lukin, editor for I many years of the Wellington Evening Post. For among the many other ad.lH'irablc qualities which placed him in g the front rank of New Zealand journalfc ism was lii-s unvarying kindness and t courtcsy to the younger members of I his profession. He made them feel that lie took a personal interest in 1 their work and progress, and the nati ural imprest'iveness and dignity of his manner gave his advice added weight, j His staff, which at one time and tinT other has included many men now hold- ' ' n S good positions in the newspaper officers of New Zealand and Australia, entertained for him feelings of' admiring affection. In the office, he was liteiully, 'as well as by name "Tho Chief"; outsidie of it, ho was one of the pleasantest of companions, an adnißra'blo talker, whether the subject was politics, or flowers, or his beloved Australia. iNew Zealand is the poorer by his death. Although the late llr Lukin very l'irely strayed from Wellington—it is several years since he pa:d his last, and perhaps Irs on-Iv. visit to the South Island—he was well known to and greatly liked by journalist* throughout New Zealand. They made his acquaintance either as members of the staff of tho "Post" at one time or another, as representatives of their papers in Wellington during the Parliamentary session or as visitors to Wellington, for the visiting journalist was usually brought alonsz to see him. He was admirably like one's 'idea of the veteran editor on an important daily newspaper. He had an impres--'-'ve presence—a slow-moving dignified lisinre. the embodiment of calmness find order, but what most inspired the journalists who came much into enntaefc with him was his kind and hospitable spirit, his humour, and his unspoiled capacity to admire good journalism. During recent years he wiis something of an invalid, and lived very quietly in bis homo it) Wellington. Until afew years ago, however,'lie lived at Bellevue. when that pretty audi comfortable hotel, 'buried in a vast and very fine expanse of gardens, lawns and rbrubberies was one of the regular resorts of Wellington citizens who loved flowers and quiet days. iTliere. on any fine Sunday. a few Wellington journalists w.ouldl pay the editor of the "Post" a morning visit-, and during the Parliamentary fioAsio,n Mr T.ivkin loved to hive part : es of the Parliamentary reporters to spend a happy and irresponsible Sunday with liini. He was particular kind to the voim-jo" men, and many a joiirnnPst now progressing into middle age recalls with :ifrection the paternal care and assistance he obtained from his chief on the "Post." When Mr Lnkin's health was at its best twelve to fifteen years i'.go. and when lii.s unremitting conflict with Mr Soddon kept him in high rood spirits and made his paper a specially bright and interesting one to work lor, there was perhaps no jollier place I<r a journalist anywhere than the ' "Post" office. Neither then, nor beI'U'e, nor since, did Ml' Lukin ever take 1 art in public affaiis excepting iin personally through the columns of his paper. But he prided himself on the (fact that he there took his part in everything that concerned the public. He was always an Australian, and proud of it, and perhaps be never quite came to think more of his adopted cnun'try than of Queensland;. His strong support of New Zealund liationa'isni was the natural result of the . •strong spirit of nationalism he brought Irom Australia. He used to insist on j Its return from a visit to Britain, at • which he attended the Empire Press ; Conference, that he came Ivjck strengthened in his dislike of what lie seemed i good Radical that he was. to regard as ] the feudalism underlying the society f and institutions of Great Britain—a j dislike with which he endeavoured, mi- } sucessfully, to infect Lord Northcliffc. With his p; i swing New Zeal audi journalism loses one of its most pktnresque " and most highly esteemed leaders'—a * journali'it of wide experience and sober ' .judgment, and a mail of whom his ' fellow workers will long cherish admir- v ing and affeet : onate memories."