TWO CANDIDATES.

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 50, 27 February 1918, Page 7

TWO CANDIDATES.

A CONTRAST IN WAR WORK.' In his speech at the Town Hall last night the Prime Minister contrasted the ■war work done by Mr. .J. P. Luke with the attitude of Mr. Holland. Addressing some disturbers of. the meeting he- said": "You have put up a man as a candidate who has never lifted a finger since the war started. He has never taken part \n any patriotic movement. See what'has happened" in Russia! Follow this man and others like him, and in a.very short time this country and the British Empire will be in the position "Russia"'is in today. You would have the Empire smashed and Germany triumphant if* you"followed the lead of such men. There is a chance—it^may be a fifty to one. or a i twenty to one chance—of his .being electI ed; but it ...is. a • poor chance. But let me say this: If this man happens to be elects ed it will be the result o"f the vote-split-ting which 1 is going on : and Mr.. Brandon ant! those behind him will be responsible, but the country will have to take the consequences. "Taking part in the ■Government of the country, even as an elector, is a valuable privilege, but it carries with it great responsibilities. There is no question about that. We have put up a man whose loyalty has been proved, whose loyalty has been tested by fire—l am referring to the Mayor of this city (loud applause), and there is no man in New Zealand who has done so much patriotic'work as Mr. Luke (applanse-), and there is' rio'woman m Now Zealand who has done half the patriotic wor?: o» his helpmate, Mrs. Luke. (Rcnewwd applause.) Mr. Luke is our candidate, the candidate of the National Government, and -will help the National Government to carry out the work it has taken up. On the other hand you _ have a man" as a candidate whose taotics, if they were adopted, would result in smashing the Empire and putting the clock of civilisation back a thousand years."