MR. J. P. LUKE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 125, 25 November 1908, Page 3

MR. J. P. LUKE.

Mr. J. P. Luke, the successful candidate for the Suburbs, thanked the electors for the fair way he had been treated during the contest. On this, his first attempt to sit in Parliament, he had been successful. The people, he thought, recugnised the work ho had done as their representative on the City Council, Education Board, and Technical School Board, and for that appreciation also ho extended thanks. "1 now stand before you as a free man," he declared. "I am bound to no ono and to no party. I am a supporter of tho Government so long as it goes on with a straightforward and progressive policy, but if it deviate* from that course I shall not support it." For his opponents he hnd nothing but kindly feelings. He said he also wished to pay a tribute to what nej, described as the "young New Zealand element" in the political life of the country— he regretted that he was not a young New Zealander, but he and Mrs. Luke owned several young New Zealanders, and he hoped they would make np for the defect. (Laughter.) New Zealand wa3 the finest country in the world, and New Zealand possessed the most progressive people in the world. (Dissent from a lone voice.) The legislation had been progressive, and as long as that progressiveness was maintained the country would advance, ne asked for three cheers for Mr. Fitzgerald. Mrs. Luke also addressed a few words to the crowd.