CIVIC SERVICES. MR. J. P. LUKE'S WORK RECOGNISED.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 92, 20 April 1911, Page 7

CIVIC SERVICES. MR. J. P. LUKE'S WORK RECOGNISED.

A TRD3UTE FROM THE RESERVES COMMITTEE. COUNCILLOR MORRAH ALSO HONOURED. Mr. J. P. Luke, who for the past thirteen years has been a member of the City Council, and latterly chairman of the. Reserves Committee, and Mr. W. H. Morrah, a member of the same committee, are both retiring from active participation in civic affairs. Neither intends to- eeek re-election on Wednesday next, and advantage was taken of a meeting of the Reserves Committee today to thank them both for their services. Mr G. Shktcliffe eaid that as the meeting of the committee would be the last at which Mr. Luke would preside he thought it only right that the committee should record its appreciation of his excellent services on behalf of the city, and more particularly in connection with the administration of the reserves. In the last few years Mr. Luke had done an enormous amount of work. He had take a personal interest in the work, and for this the thanks of citizens as a whole were due. He was sure Mr. Luke would do good work in a lees active sphere in the future, and that his activity would not be altogether curtailed. (Applause.) Mn Sbirtcliffe also referred to the singleness of purpose which had always actuated Mr. Morrah, and moved that the committee should record ite> appreciation of the cervices of theii chairman and Mr. Morrah, its xegrev that they had found it necessary to rb linquish public life, and a hope that they would long be spared to work in tho interests of the city. Mr. G. Frost eaid that as an exchairman of the committee he could testify to the good work done by Mr. Luke. The R-eserves Committee of the council was practically the only one that possessed administrative power. By far the greater portion of the work fell on the chairman, and that he had performed exceedingly well. Mr. Cohen considered that the whole city had benefited from Mr. Luke's services. No man had given up more of his time to the advancement of the city than, Mr. Luke had. Mr. Morrah had also given of his best, and he (Mr. Cohen) hoped that both would be found occupying a place at the council table at some future time. Mr. R. Fletcher thought it was greatly to be regretted that Mr. Luke had found 'it necessary to retire. Mr. Morrah, too, had done his share in the advancement of the interests of the city. Mr. Morrah, in- reply, paid a tribute to Mr. Luke. The next chairman would nave a difficult task in keeping up to the standard set by Mr. Luke. For himself, he could only say he had tried to do his best for the city_ as a whole. He was glad he was leaving with the goodwill of the committee and the council, and he hoped all the councillors would be re-elected at the poll next Wednesday. A BIG WRENCH. Mr. Luke said he had few' words to say in reply. His severance with the committee was a bigger wrench than might be imagined. As far as he could see there had always been -an earnest desire on the part -of councillors to give honest and straightforward service to the city. The city had also been fortunate in the officers it possessed. He specially referred to the care Mr. Glen had bestowed on the reserves, and said that the committee had always been faced with the difficulty which "limited capital" imposed. They had not been able to do as much as they would have liked, but they had done their best. He would like to have been able to do more in the interests of the very young children. Ever since he had been on the committee the sparseness.of the school playgrounds had always! struck him. If the city was going to encourage a high standard of national life and foster high ideals ia men and women, it would have to pay due regard to extension of its open spaces. He did not like to say " Good-bye," for- his heart was in the work, but he did not think he was altogether buried, a-nd he believed the time was coming when he would again be able to submit himself to the electors of the city. (Applause. ) The motion was carried with acclamaI tion.