WELLINGTON NORTH

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 138, 9 December 1919, Page 3

WELLINGTON NORTH

MR. LUKE'S CANDIDATURE

There were about 250 people present, at the Molesworth-street, Methodist Schoolroom last-night, what Mr. J. P. Luke (Reform) addressed another Meeting of electors of Wellington-North. Mr. A. J.'Curtis occupied the chair. The candidate, after advocating an Imperialistic1 policy, claimed that the Reform Party "had;-done a great deal to reduce' the cost of living, and had succeeded in keeping the rate below that in Queensland, where, there was a; Labour Govemment . in- power. (A voice: "Rot.") -Mr. Luke maintained that the official figures proved that he was correct in his statement. There was still much that-the Government could do to reduce the cost of living, and the people could rest assured that the Reform Government would not shirk its responsibilities. Next'in. importance-to: the cost of living was the question of education. He stood for a sane, but more advanced system, along the present national lines, with no special privileges for any section. He urged the need-for better schools and colleges in Wellington, and then went pn to deal with the question of closer settle ment. He spoke strongly in favour of oleicr leitlemeat -when he ww ukedi by

an interjector : "Does Mr.. Ma-ssey favour that?" Mr. Luke : I am not a mouthpiece for Mr. Massey. Proceeding, to other matters, Mr. -Luke urged greater assistance in regard to the oil and ironsaiid experiments in Tarana.ki. More could be done, too; in connection with the production of beet sugar, especially in view of the fact that New | Zealand imported as much as 700,000 pounds of sugar. He considered that the Government would be quite justified in assisting fruitgrowers in providing evaporating plants. Finally he dealt I with tire work accomplished last session, which he submitted warranted a renewal 'of the confidence of the people. Mr. T. AA r. Stace moved a vote of thanks and confidence, but there were loud cries of "No," and the motion was .not put by the chairman.