“ EVEN A WORM WILL TURN.” .

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3463, 1 March 1912, Page 5

“ EVEN A WORM WILL TURN.” .

MR. PAYNE AND HIS PLEDGE. A SIDELIGHT ON RECENT POLITICAL EVENTS,. Mr Payne’s broken pledges are of some- considerable interest in Napier. The Hawke’s Bay Tribune severely criticses him, and publishes telegrams exchanged with Mr Crowley the Reform candidate. WTien Mr Crowley retired in favour of Mr Hill, the Labour candidate, Mr Payne telegraphed as follows : . ‘Crowley', Oppositionist, Napier—- “ Congratulations on .your broadminded action in stepping down in favour of Inspector Hill. Labour and O posit ion have corfimon interests in clean administration and sane finance. “John Payne, ‘Labour Candidate, Grey Lynn-” Following upon the development in the no-confidence debate, Mr Crowley telegraphed to Mr Payne this morning— “ You have proved the truth of that old quotation that ‘even a worm will turn.’ ” Mr Payne’s answer was received in the following words—- “ Your wire reminds me of a comedian I once heard who sang a song which ridiculed old sayings. Below I give you the lines he used in reviewing" the adage quoted in yonr wire, ‘Even a worm will turn.’ 'The comedian sang— That even' a worm will turn, ’tis said, An absurdity as you will soon learn. If the worm gets under a hob-nailed boot Now how’s the poor worm going to turn ? “Yours with a wriggle on, —Payne, the worm.” Mr Crowley immediately replied—- “ Could understand you turning if squeezed by Farmer Bill’s hobnails, but why wriggle under the dainty hoof of the ‘gingerbread aristocracy?’ ” Labour men here generally believe that Mr Payne has committed political suicide.