MR. LUKE REFUSED A HEARING

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 146, 18 December 1919, Page 9

MR. LUKE REFUSED A HEARING

Mr. J. P. Luke,. O.M.G-., the reelected member for Wellington North, was the first to zaako his appearance on the Evening Post balcony! This was the signal for a pronounced uproar, which continued during the whole of the time Mr. Luke 'was speaking. Addressing himself to the excited crowd and raising his voice so that the press representatives standing close by'could heai: him, he said he wished to express his sincere, thanks to the electors ... of Wellington North for the honour they had done him. He felt that the confidence of the people that had been'reposed in him was art endorsement of his work and of his citizenship. He owed his election largely to those who had been associated with him in. conducting the campaign, and he wished specially to. thank .his secretary, the members of his committee, and the ladies for the splendid work they had done. They were now passing through a very difficult time in the history of the Dominion, and. he was sore they "would agree with him that it was important that they should have a sane, strong, and honest Government. to carry on the legislation and to further the progress of the Dominion. The Reform Party had a progressive policy that would enable it to carry on the Government of the country for a great number of years. On behalf of his committee and in his 'own name he tendered, them sincefest thanks. He asked for three cheers for Mr. Browne and three, more for Mr. Read, but the crowd was quite unable to hear him amidst the die which continued unabated. The fight, Mr. Luke said, had been carried on in a manner that redounded credit to the political ambitions of those that had been engaged in it. It had been conducted on strictly party lines and free from personalities. He concluded by asking again for cheers for his defeated opponents, but he was not heard and he withdrew amid the uproar.'