WELLINGTON NORTH

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 56, 29 November 1919, Page 10

WELLINGTON NORTH

MR. LUKE AT MASONIC HALL. Mr. .T. P. Luke's mooting last night in tho Masonic Hall, Botilcott Street, , was crowded out. Scores of people were unable to guin admission. Mr. M. Murdoch presided. Mr. Luke -was subjected to interjections and interruption!; from the moment he began to speak, but the interrupters wore in quite a small minority. Mr. Luke was allowed to spean with comparative freedom. lie gave some account of his record as a member of Parliament and as Mayor of the city. Ho spoke of the housing schemes of the city and the Government, saying that tho city scheme had been first promulgated, but that the Government scheme would prove to he tho best that had ever been launched in aily part of the world. He claimed that (ho cost of living in New Zealand was lower than in any, other part of the Empire, and that, this wns due in great measure to the action ol: the Government, no claimed credit for tho Government also for the improvement of the widows' pension scheme and the superannuation allowances. \t this stage the interruptions were gotting rather too frequent ,and a policeman took 0116 man out. HiJ wns already near the door. There were'howls and shouts of protest, nnd cries (if "Free speech!" But the man went put all right, and there was less noiso for some time. Mr. Luke spoke of public health affairs, with soecial reference to the epidemic; of educftt/on, end the need for new schools, and the niled for better pay for teachers! and finaiiw, with a reference to the heavy obligations on tho Dominion as tho rasn'lt of ihe war. > Mr. Luke advocated the development of the oil industry by systematic prodpe-ctinj, and nisi) of some extensive research work to discover the possibiliti* of the iron aiid 6teol industry in New Zealand.. Mi , . Lulto Wai applauded when he eat down. Hi« friends were in a big majority in the meetins,'. ■ . ' Replying to a'question, Mr. Luke fcflid th.at he was not i.n favour of sending youths into camp for four months' training, or oven for two months. To another questioner ho said that ho was 1 not iii favour of denying Jwlltical rights to public servants i • A Vote of thnnks was proposed. There were some loud-voiced talkers who wanted more questfons, but iMr. Luke had answered already a fair number, nnd the chairman would take no niofe. There was acclamation, to cYifry the vote of thanks, and Mr. LUko acknowledged it.