John Luke
Encyclopedia
Sir John-Pearce Luke, CMG
(1858–1931) was a New Zealand politician. Luke was Mayor of Wellington
from 1913–1921 and Member of Parliament
for Wellington Suburbs
1908–1911 and Wellington North
1918–1928. His brother Charles Manley Luke
had previously also been Mayor of Wellington in 1895. The Luke brothers were always known by their first two names, although Sir John Pearce was also nicknamed Peanut, because he was short.
, near Penzance
, Cornwall, England, Luke came to New Zealand with his parents in July 1874 after the Cornish
tin
industry failed. He completed an apprenticeship as an engineer.
. For many years he was president of the New Zealand Engineers and Iron masters Association, and was actively associated with the Wellington Industrial Association, the Wellington District Hospital Board, the Wellington Technical Education Board, and the Navy League. The Returned Soldiers Association conferred upon them the honour of life membership of the organisation.
with his election as member for Wellington Suburbs
for the Liberal Party
, but he lost his seat at the 1911 general election
to Reform candidate William Henry Dillon Bell
. From 1911 until 1918 he was not a member of Parliament, and was re-elected to Parliament in the Wellington North by-election 1918 and again 1919, as the member for Wellington North
. He held this seat continuously until the general election of 1928
, when he was defeated by the Labour
candidate, by a margin of 47 votes.
Luke was married in 1880 to Jacobina McGregor. He was knighted
in 1921 for his work in combatting the 1918 influenza epidemic, having previously been made a CMG
.
He was leader of the New Zealand delegation which visited South Africa in 1924 in connection with the Empire Parliamentary Association.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
(1858–1931) was a New Zealand politician. Luke was Mayor of Wellington
Mayor of Wellington
The Mayor of Wellington is the head of the municipal government of Wellington, New Zealand, and presides over the Wellington City Council. The Mayor of Wellington administers only Wellington City itself — other municipalities in adjacent areas of the Wellington Region such as Lower Hutt, Upper...
from 1913–1921 and Member of Parliament
Parliament of New Zealand
The Parliament of New Zealand consists of the Queen of New Zealand and the New Zealand House of Representatives and, until 1951, the New Zealand Legislative Council. The House of Representatives is often referred to as "Parliament".The House of Representatives usually consists of 120 Members of...
for Wellington Suburbs
Wellington Suburbs
Wellington Suburbs was a parliamentary electorate in Wellington, New Zealand from 1893 to 1946.The electorate was represented by six Members of Parliament.-Members of Parliament for Wellington Suburbs:-References:...
1908–1911 and Wellington North
Wellington North (New Zealand electorate)
Wellington North was, from 1905 to 1946, a parliamentary electorate within the area encompassing New Zealand's capital, Wellington.The electorate was represented by four Members of Parliament — Charles Izard from 1905 to 1908, Alexander Herdman from 1908 to 1918 and John Luke from 1918 to 1928.Its...
1918–1928. His brother Charles Manley Luke
Charles Luke
Sir Charles Manley Luke was Mayor of Wellington in 1895. His brother Sir John Luke was later Mayor of Wellington from 1913–1921....
had previously also been Mayor of Wellington in 1895. The Luke brothers were always known by their first two names, although Sir John Pearce was also nicknamed Peanut, because he was short.
Early life
Born at St JustSt Just in Penwith
St Just is a town and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The parish encompasses the town of St Just and the nearby settlements of Trewellard, Pendeen and Kelynack: it is bounded by the parishes of Morvah to the north-east, Sancreed and Madron to the east, St Buryan and Sennen to...
, near Penzance
Penzance
Penzance is a town, civil parish, and port in Cornwall, England, in the United Kingdom. It is the most westerly major town in Cornwall and is approximately 75 miles west of Plymouth and 300 miles west-southwest of London...
, Cornwall, England, Luke came to New Zealand with his parents in July 1874 after the Cornish
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
tin
Tin
Tin is a chemical element with the symbol Sn and atomic number 50. It is a main group metal in group 14 of the periodic table. Tin shows chemical similarity to both neighboring group 14 elements, germanium and lead and has two possible oxidation states, +2 and the slightly more stable +4...
industry failed. He completed an apprenticeship as an engineer.
City council and Mayor
Luke was first elected to the city council in 1898 and served between that year and 1911. He was responsible for the expansion of the Wellington tramway systemWellington tramway system
The Wellington tramway system operated in Wellington, the capital of New Zealand. The tramways were originally owned by a private company, but were purchased by the city and formed a major part of the city's transport system.-Trams:...
. For many years he was president of the New Zealand Engineers and Iron masters Association, and was actively associated with the Wellington Industrial Association, the Wellington District Hospital Board, the Wellington Technical Education Board, and the Navy League. The Returned Soldiers Association conferred upon them the honour of life membership of the organisation.
Member of Parliament
His political career began in 1908New Zealand general election, 1908
The New Zealand general election of 1908 was held on Tuesday, 17 November, 24 November and 1 December in the general electorates, and on Wednesday, 2 December in the Māori electorates to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 17th session of the New Zealand Parliament...
with his election as member for Wellington Suburbs
Wellington Suburbs
Wellington Suburbs was a parliamentary electorate in Wellington, New Zealand from 1893 to 1946.The electorate was represented by six Members of Parliament.-Members of Parliament for Wellington Suburbs:-References:...
for the Liberal Party
New Zealand Liberal Party
The New Zealand Liberal Party is generally regarded as having been the first real political party in New Zealand. It governed from 1891 until 1912. Out of office, the Liberals gradually found themselves pressed between the conservative Reform Party and the growing Labour Party...
, but he lost his seat at the 1911 general election
New Zealand general election, 1911
The New Zealand general election of 1911 was held on Thursday, 7 and 14 December in the general electorates, and on Tuesday, 19 December in the Māori electorates to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 18th session of the New Zealand Parliament...
to Reform candidate William Henry Dillon Bell
William Henry Dillon Bell
William Henry Dillon Bell was a Reform Party Member of Parliament in New Zealand.He won the Wellington Suburbs and Country seat in the 1911 general election, and held it to 1914, when he retired and volunteered for service in World War I...
. From 1911 until 1918 he was not a member of Parliament, and was re-elected to Parliament in the Wellington North by-election 1918 and again 1919, as the member for Wellington North
Wellington North (New Zealand electorate)
Wellington North was, from 1905 to 1946, a parliamentary electorate within the area encompassing New Zealand's capital, Wellington.The electorate was represented by four Members of Parliament — Charles Izard from 1905 to 1908, Alexander Herdman from 1908 to 1918 and John Luke from 1918 to 1928.Its...
. He held this seat continuously until the general election of 1928
New Zealand general election, 1928
The New Zealand general election of 1928 was held on Tuesday, 13 November in the Māori electorates, and on Wednesday, 14 November in the general electorates to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 23rd session of the New Zealand Parliament...
, when he was defeated by the Labour
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
candidate, by a margin of 47 votes.
Luke was married in 1880 to Jacobina McGregor. He was knighted
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
in 1921 for his work in combatting the 1918 influenza epidemic, having previously been made a CMG
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
.
He was leader of the New Zealand delegation which visited South Africa in 1924 in connection with the Empire Parliamentary Association.
Trivia
- Lukes Lane in the Wellington CBD is named the family business, Lukes' Foundry, which was sited there; years later, Sir John Pearce's sons set up Luke Bros foundry near Chaffers Street. Lukes' Foundry built New Zealand's first steel ship, and several lighthouses.
- Sir John Pearce and his wife, Lady Luke, donated the decorative iron gates at the entrance to Central Park, in Brooklyn.
- Lady Luke was President of the Victoria League Wellington Branch from 1920 to 1922 (A History of Victoria League for Commonwealth Friendship in New Zealand by Brian Stokes, 1979).