SERVICE TO CITY

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 136, 11 June 1931, Page 20

SERVICE TO CITY

MR. LUCKIE THANKED

A WORTHY COUNCILLOR

A CANDIDATE AGAIN

■A vory happy function was held in Messrs. Nimmo's concert hall yesterday afternoon when a number of business men and citizens gathered to express their thanks and appreciation of the good servico given the city by Mr. M. F. Luckie as a member of the City Council for eighteen years. Mr. Luekie indicated that at somo future time ho might again contest tho Mayoralty. Mr. B. H. Nimmo, who presided, said he felt that the gathering was speaking not merely for itself, but for the great body of Wellington people who appreciated the great amount of useful work done freely and cheerfully by Mr. Luckie in the city's interest. "It is our privilege and pleasure 'to be Betting fliis seal to the mark of high appreciation shown towards our' guest iii the great nuniber of votes cast for him in tho recent elections, and, beyond that, the goodwill and esteem of thousands of others who for various personal or other reasons did not vote on his side at this time. . . .

Our honoured guest of to-day, who may be free to give his service again and perhaps reach the high offico of which lie aspired, can in. the meantime take a well-earned rest with pleasure in the consciousness that lie lias done, his duty, has made his mark on the city. he- "loves, and. carries with, him into ■what we trust is but temporary retirement the- esteem and goodwill of his fellow-citizens." : A : RECORD OF SERVICE. ' Mr. Xuckie was elected to the.office, ef councillor for the first time in April, 1913, continued Mr. Ninimo, and had been returned at every subsequent election. ,He was appointed a member of the Baths and Beserves Com;mittee,.the Bylaws, Street Lighting, and Libraries Committees in 1913, and had served on them ever since, and for twelve.years was chairman of the Bylaws Committee. When the Fire Board was created he was appointed as a representative of the council, and ■was on the first Milk Committee set up by-the council. Mr. Luckie was the council's representative on the ■Technical College Board and on the Victoria College Council - for nine years. Mr. Luckio took a leading part in opposing the poll for alteringthe system of rating from capital toUnimproved valuations. He was Deputy Mayor for.four years; and has also represented the council .during that time-at-the Municipal.Association conferences and committee meetings. Only those who had been in office for a number of years as councillor or Mayor could appreciate what that bare outline meant. • "When the opportunity offers, as it 3oes to-day," concluded Mr. Nimmo, ''it is both'a duty and a privilege for us-to pay back a little of what we owe. We are greatly indebted, as all citizens are, to ex-Councillor Luckie for the long and arduous, honourable, and faithful service he has given for the advancement of the city and the general welfaro of its citizens.'' HAD THE COUNCIL HAD THE SAY. Jt was a privilege to express the feelings of the citizens of sincere regard and appreciation of Mr. Luckie's work, said Mr. J. M'lntosh. To say that Mr. Luckie had served the city for 18 years really conveyed but little of the fact. During the whole of that period he had taken a most active part in the city's affairs, and to those who knew him his, restless energy was his outstanding characteristic. For the position of chairman of the Bylaws Committee Mr. Luckie had been well fitted by his long experience of city affairs anil by his professional knowledge, and it would be difficult indeed to replace him in that position. He had filled the office of Deputy Mayor with dignity and credit. Mr. M'lntosh went on to say that he thought there would be a decided improvement if the voters elected the full number of the council and left the selection of tho Mayor to the councillors themselves, for who knew better than they who was best suited to fill that position? Had that been done at the last election there was no doubt who would have been chosen as Mayor. (Applause.) A LOYAL COUNCILLOR. The ox-Mayor, Mr. G. A. Troup, said he had been associated with Mr. Luckie for six years, and during that time had learned to respect him, and, more than that, to appreciate him as a man. His record of 18 years of continuous service was unique, and unique also was the vast amount of time he had given so readily to city affairs. His professional knowledge; had been freely given, anrj'i Wellington owed him a great debt of gratitude. Councillor Luckie had been to him a most loyal councillor, adviser, and friend. He joined with tho other speakers in wishing him and Mrs. Luekio every happiness and at some short time the Mayoral chair as well. A COMRADE AND FRIEND. "As an old .comrade and friend of Martin Luekie for 16 years, I am here to pay my tribute to his work," said Councillor W. H. Bennett. "I am one who believes it is'better- to scatter a few flowers along-the pathway of a friend than to. crowd his' coffin with flowers..',' (Applause.) Councillor Bennettspoke of Mr. Luckie's untiring work for the city, much of it done, he felt sure, against Mr. Luekie's personal interests, and particularly of his services as chairman of the Bylaws Committee. He wished him and Mrs. Luckie all health and happiness and a speedy return to public life. Mr. Nimmo then presented to ■ Mr. Luckie. a gold watch and chain, with the inscription, "Presented to Martin Luckie in gratitude and appreciation of his 18. years' service to the City of Wellington." To Mrs. Luckie Mr. Nimmo presented a gold wristlet watch. EMBARRASSING APPRECIATION. Mr. Luckie said that what had been ssid made it exceedingly difficult for him to make his reply. Much that had been said of him he did not deserve. "It will take me five years at least to live up to it," he said. He felt very deeply .the appreciation that had been expressed by the citizens. It Was true that he had been a member of the City Council for a very long time, but ho had been a citizen of Wellintgon for a very much longer time, and had seen Wellington grow from a town of 20,000 people to the fine city it is to-day. "It is something to look back upon," continued Mr. Luckie, "that I have had some small part in making Wellington what it is to-day, a city of which one may well be proud. Therefore, I am well rewarded for my services." (Applause.) Referring to the election, Mr. Luckie expressed his warm thanks to all who had assisted him in his candidature. He had entered the field rather late, and was faced with two powerful organisations, but such was the loyal assistance given him by his committee and his friends, some of whom he had known and some he had not known, that he had achieved a very fair success. "I met hundreds of womenfolk," he added, K-who told me straightoufc that they; did

not care twopence for me as Mayor, but they did want Mrs. Luckie as Mayoress." (Laughter and applause.) For two years at least, concluded Mr. Luckie, he was going out of public life, and could view tho affaire of the city as did those in the hall. Perhaps at the end of that period he could oltcr his services again with a still better knowledge of what was desired. It ho could feel then that that was so he would come to work again with a tull heart if he were assured of such support as was accorded him at the last election. (Applause.) I Tho gathering was concluded by the singing of "He's a Jolly Good l'cllow." j ■