MR, PAYNE AT LAST.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3457, 23 February 1912, Page 5

MR, PAYNE AT LAST.

WILL VOTE FOR THE GOVERNMENT. WOULD NOT SCRUPLE TO BREAK HIS PLEDGE. • ‘DISHWATER ARGUMENT.” [per press association^ The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. MR. PAYNE (Grey Lynn) said that the policy as outlined in the Governor’s speech was in sympathy with his idea of a Labor policy. So far the Opposition had given him no opportunity to learn what they would do. As far as the Governor’s speech was concerned he had heard a great deal about it being an insult to the Government members and the people, but lie could not see where the insult came in. He had given his pledge to the Leader of the Opposition to vote for his side last Friday week, hut he could not now see any justification for keeping it. If he deemed it expedient to break his pledge hs would not scruple about doing it. Ho would rather break his pledge than commit Labor interest of murder. While in the north he had beep led to believe that there were certain irregularities going on in the conduct of the country’s affairs. Since he had been in the House the only things he had been able to hear were innuendoes. Last week a meeting of his constituents had been called to ask him to resign in consequence of rumors circulated in Auckland that lie intended to vote for Sir Joseph Ward. The meeting had finished by requesting him to vote against the Reform Party. Innuendoes had been in circulation that he had been bought by the Ward Government for £IOOO. It had been told him by the Leader of the Opposition himself. Mr. Massey: “Tell what you told me in my room.” Mr. Payne, continuing, said he would deal with that matter later. Any attempt to influence him by specious argument would he futile, as he considered that he was conserving the interests of the people by supporting the Liberals. He had heard Sir Joseph Ward repudiate slanders issued during the election, but he had not heard them discussed by the Opposition. He had heard of recklessness in the finance of the present administration, but he had not heard or seen anything to warrant him in believing this. He believed there was a new Party in the making combining the Libera! and Labor interests, and he had to consider what was the best bargain for the Labor Party. Referring to the charges of recklessness in borrowing and squandering, he characterised them as interventions and cited from an English authority to show that what had been done in New Zealand was what was being done in England by municipalities. His moral was that New Zealanl, as in England, was spending money on works of utility and . profit. He had come to Parliament with an open mirci and had listened to both sides. He had, he declared, never listen j .d to such dishwater argument as bad been uttered against the Government. To sum the position up, he had not heard anything to pass on to his con stituents in Crey Lynn as sufficient to vote out the Liberal Government on a no-confidence motion. He looked forward to a combinaVon of Liberal, Radical, and Labor members to work together for the geniri.l “°Mr. Payne, in a,.personal explanation, said his election pledges contained no pledge that ho should vote- against the War’d Administration. They were tyixxl out and were in the hands of his committee."