LIFE OF PUBLIC SERVICE

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 138, 8 December 1931, Page 6

LIFE OF PUBLIC SERVICE

General regret will be felt among all sections of the Wellington community at the death of Sir John Luke, a man who had spent the greater part of his life in the service of the city. One must go back very many years to discover when Sir John was not prominent in city service. Thirtythree years ago he'entered the City Council, and from that time to this his name and that of Lady Luke have been associated with all movements for the/public benefit. As Mayor of Wellington in die war years Sir John gave distinguished service. He and Lady Luke were untiring workers and leaders of the city. Sir John himself initiated and carried through many notable civic works. Under his leadership principally the amalgamation of the smaller boroughs with Wellington was brought about. But gratitude for faithful service will not be the only reason for regret at Sir John's death. More than any other man of recent years Sir John Luke was a friend of the people. His kindly and unassuming manner won him the warm friendship of the citizens^ He knew them personally and was genuinely interested in their affairs, not merely as a public man, but with real human interest. Very many will now feel that they have lost much more than a faithful worker for Wellington and New Zealand. They have lost a true friend.