AFTER THE BATTLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 March 1918, Page 4

AFTER THE BATTLE.

MR LUKE GETS A BAD RECEPTION. MR MASSEY REFUSED A HEARING. MR HOLLAND ENTHUSIASTIC--6 ALLY RECEIVED. (N.Z. Times.) The scene which occurred.in Willis Street-, opposite the “ Evening Post ” office, after ,the battle was over was unparalleled in the political history of New Zealand—at any rate so far as a by-election is concerned. There was a congregation of about 10,000 people extending down Mercer Street and along Willis Street as far as the Duke of Edinburgh H<jtel corner. When Mr Luke appeared the uproar was tremendous. The crowd simply refused to hear him. Not a word was heard by the multitude. He simply spoke on the balcony of the printing office to the reporters. Mr Holland, on the other hand, received quite an attentive hearing, When Mr Massey, the Prime Minister, appeared on the scene it was the signal for the utmost uproar. He was counted out over and over again and assailed with missiles varying from crumbs of bread to. oranges, lemons and eggs. The last mentioned were fairly newly-laid, and one particularly well-directed just missed Mr Massey but landed on the chest of a bystander. The Prime Minister, however, got the full benefit of a banana skin right on the forehead. He turned to the reporters surrounding him and remarked, “They take their licking badly.” After gesticulating to the crowd for half an hour and greeting them with quite a smiling countenance, he retired and delivered a short address'to the press representatives for due deliverance to the public, the easiest method of publication in these hazardous days. The multitude hung round for some time and afterwards gave a hearing to Mr Poison.

MR LUKE’S SPEECH. Mr Luke thanked the electors for the vote they had given him as the National Government candidate. It had been cast in the direction of good government, and lie felt that the great body of the people was behind him in advancing the cause of Empire and in supporting the bold boys wlio liad gone to the front. The victory which bad been achieved at the polling booths was not a personal oiie, but one for the National Government, in the face of some difficulties. He desired to return thanks to the committee that had worked for him, and had also to acknowledge that the other candidates had put up a good light. of tjie victory had been communicated to Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward, and they desired to express their satisfaction at the verdict of the electors. One thing that he was grateful for was the .strong Imperial note that had been struck the press. In conclusion Mr Luke called for cheers for the other candidates, which were heartily given. *

THE LABOUR CAUSE. j After an interval Mr Holland appeared on the scene and received a great ovation. “I want briefly to thank all those electors who voted for myself as a representative of the Labour movement in New Zealand.” he said. “ I want to thank all those friends and comrades wlio worked so loyally with me in this fight. (Cheers). Having said that much 1 want to remiud you that when we of the Labour movement came into this fight we came with clean hands—(cheers) —and we go out of the fight with clean hands. (Renewed cheering). Labour came to lift. • political - fighting to an intellectual plane—(cheers) —and 1 am not going to make myself responsible for what Dr Thacker or anybody else did. (Cheers.) But don’t let anybody wlio has supported the Massey-Ward Government, complain When it is remembered that for twelve months aud more every champion of Labour has had the fear of the prison put, before him. (Cheers, and a voice : Rub it in.”) However, 1 do not propose to traverse the' oratory of the campaign. T want to say this : That Labour, next to having won the seat, lias achieved something that is going to hearten the whole of the progressive forces of this country. (Cheers.) When we get the general election—(cheers) —we will make a greater achievement than we have in this campaign. Three years ago th’e ) Labour party polled 1688 votes. This election we have added nearly 1000 to that total. (Cheers.) The Government cannot shut its eyes to this fact: that in the hitherto most Conservative of all city electorates Labour came and challenged the Government and reduced the Government’s majority considerably. (Cheers.) We are in this position to-day : that this fight, in Wellington North has not only sapped the foundations of the Government’s position in Wellington North, but it has linked up the Labour forces, not only in my opinion, but in the opinion of, the Otago Labour Council, the Canterbury Labour Council, the Auckland Council—of all the Labour bodies from end to end of New Zealand. We have fought a good, clean fight and with clean hands. We brought n 6 buckets of mud into this campaign. We made no personal charges. We fought without a daily press at our back—with all the daily papers against us. In the days of the future when we come to fiaht we will go forward , having built up > daily press of our own —(cheers)— and we will have better organisation. Now, those of you. who voted for the Government i, in this election until next election 1 1

will get exactly what you voted for. That is your business entirely. I wonld point to the weakened position of the Government in Wellington North. Put the Government position in Wellington North to-day and three years ago, and you will see how this National Government has lost ground. In conclusion, I thank those who voted for Labour for the. splendid fig-ht made, 1 and declare that Labour has nothing to tie ashamed of. In this contest Labour has every reason to be proud of the splendid, clean fight that it has made and will continue. Labour will continue to go on organising its forces. When we get a general election and return a majority of Labour members New Zealand will no longer be run under class legislation, qlass administration. It will be run with the flag of freedom waved above it, and that is what will never happen so long as the Massey-Ward Government is in power.” (Cheers.)

STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER.

As already explained, Mr Massey subsequently appeared, and would not be listened to by the crowd He made the following deliverance to the press: “I am Relighted with the victory gained by the National Government candidate. I would have preferred a larger majority, bht, in the circumstances, I think it is very good indeed. lam prond that Wellington North has been constant to its ancient traditions What has happened is an indication on the part of the people of the country ns a whole that they are true to the policy which they approved at the commencement of the war. New Zealand, through its Parliament and Government, will continue to do its share in the great struggle in which the Empire is engaged. That is the message which will go out from the victory which has been obtained. There were, as everyone knows, a number of side issues, which had nothing to do with the actual question which * was submitted to the electors, and which I was afraid at one time might prevent a satisfactory answer. Now that I have got the opportunity I want to take it to thank Mr Luke’s supporters, and especially the members of his committee —both ladies and gentlemen—and both the Reform party and the Liberal party, who have woiked so bard to secure his majority, and who deserve the success which has attended their efforts.”