WELLINGTON NORTH.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1080, 5 February 1918, Page 2

WELLINGTON NORTH.

THE BY-ELECTION

MR J. P. LUKE THE NATION AT U.i iVKR X AllO XT LAND I DATE.

Tin? following announcement was issued to-day L>y (lie Brime Minister (on behalf of hiimelf .ind Sir Joseph Wind) in connection will) the coming vacancy for Wellington North:

“When tiio National was formed nn honourable undcrstiuiding was arrived in to the elVeet mat if, dining its term of office, a member belonging lo either part'’ died or for any reason retired I t orn Pail'iunumt, the leader of the party to which piich m.'mbgr belonged .tumid nominate a e.indiihiie for the by election _ I hns rendered nee, issarv, and such nomination would be stipnorled by iln* leader on the oiler .side ol (MliltlCS. _ "Under this arrangement Alt’ ,1. 1 . LtikO has been invited to fonie forward lor the i outing by-election m Wellington North as a supporter of the National Government, and in compliance with lie* understanding referred to we strongly recommend him t<» sunnort of the electors of Wellington North. 11 W. E AIASSKV. J. 0. WARD.” Wellington, Ml) February, 1910, STATEMENT BY MR MASSEY. With respect to the above announcement, the Prime Minister made tin- following statement; — . "Tim Government, in selecting a eanm date to contest this eh,*ction as a- supporter of the National Cabinet, formed to carry on New Zealand’s share of the war, have, him -pedal regard to Mr Luke's constant ami untiring efforts on behalf of our soldiers, troth going and coming. As Wellington lias been the main centre of military activity, tire duty of caring for our soldiers has fallen heavily upon its citizens, who hav willingly and cheerfully done their part but. none with more ability and tlioioiiglmesthan our Mayor and tin; Mayoress, who, In her kindly zeal, has endeared herself to the hearts of many thousands of the men oi out citizen army. There are not in New Zea land to-day two citizens who have worker more loyally and enthnsia.stically in tin great cause fur winch we are light big than Mr and Airs Luke, linp have sent their own sons to the front, aim they have done everything that it was pos sible to do to provide comforts for the sow* of their fellow citizens, both in the camp of this country ami the lighting lines of tic Northern Hemisphere. "Mi Luke has given the most practical proof that it is twssible tor a man to givi of his enthusiastic patriotism, consequently, when an opportunity presents it.iell ol selecting a candidate to contest AVellingtoi North for a seat in the Parliament of the country, who could he more fitted to receive the nomination than ibis citizen who, aMil, ir of Wellington during the wai perl id, has given the whole of hi.s time and energy to (he service of the public? lr saying tin's, 1 am casting no reflection on other worthy citizens, who may possibly have political ambitious, and whose c'ainu in normal times would most, certainly have been entitled to favourable consideration, hut whom 1 am at present, very reluctantly compelled to pass over. We are not living in normal times; a political tiiicc lias beer declared as between the two great parties which is being honourably observed by their leaders, as well as by the great mass of the pub ic. The one object of paramount, importance to New Zealand, as to the Empire itself, is to win the war. and until peace comes every other question must take second place. “Air Luke’s-heart is in Wellington. ll< has looked after its interests well and sue. cessfnlly during the most- critical time in it* history. Me has had previous Parliamentary experience. He is a man whom wu can trust, and now that the opportunity offers by the retirement of its late esteemed member, 1 feel confident that the electors will show their appreciation of his faithful record by electing him to the honourable position of (heir Parliamentary representative for Wellington North.” MR HERDMAN’S RESIGNATION. Hon, A. L. Hardman, who is resigning ids position us a member of the National Government prior to his appointment as a Judge of (ho Supreme Court, in place of his Honour Sir John Denniston, was born at Dunedin in 1869, and is a son of the lure Alexander Hordman, bank manager. Mr Jlerdman was educated at the Otago Boys’ Dig School, and at Oaimmi. lie was admitted to the Bar in Dunedin in 1894, ami practised at .Palmerston South and Nasehy. lie was a member of the Naseliy Borough Council, and Mayor in 1898. He was elected member for Mount Ida in the House of Representatives in 1902, which position ho held till 1905. Having transferred bis business lo Wellington, In* was elected member for Wellington North in 1908, and has represented the constituency ever since. Mr Herd man was appointed Attorney-General and Minister of J* dee in 1912, and in 1915 lie was the A fillister chosen by the National Government to establish and control tin Di scliurged Soldiers’ Information Department. THE ELECTORAL DISTRICT. Tin* Wellington North hy-elcclion will In conducted on the old boundaries, that is, tin* boundaries which were in force for the 1914 General Election. It is just as wel' lo make this clear, hecau.se a. large secijoi of persons residing in Northland arc undei the impression that they will not. lit* entitle! to vote at the by-election. The new horn: Juries recently defined by the Represent i lion ('ommissionei's do not come into opera tion until the expiry of the present' I’iuli i men;.