THE NO-CONFIDENCE DEBATE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1012, 27 February 1912, Page 3

THE NO-CONFIDENCE DEBATE.

LABOUR'S ATTITUDE

MR VEITCH HELD TO HIS PLEDGE.

Wanganui, Bed. 25

The Chronicle learns from an authoritative source that the rumour that Mr Veitch is likely to break his election pledge is quite unfounded. Mr Veitch returned to Wanganui on Saturday specially to meet his committee. He arrived by the 9 p.m. train, and proceeded at once to the meeting, which was largely attended. During the forenoon the chairman ot Mr Veitch’s committee received a telegram from a member of the Wanganui Labour Party at present in Wellington, strongly urging that Mr Veitch be given a free hand with regard to the no-confidence motion now before the House. This is interpreted to mean that Mr Veitch should be free to vote for instead of against the Ward Administration, and prominent members of his committee received the suggestion with unqualified disapproval, So far as they were concerned, they said, there was to be no breaking of pledges, and they did not believe for a moment that Mr Veitch himself would think of going back on his word. Steps were taken to ensure a large attendance at the night’s meeting. Proceedings were not open to the press, but the Chronicle is informed that the greatest unanimity prevailed, and that Mr Veitch made it clear that he had no intention of breaking his pledge, aik 1 ‘ at the meeting terminated with a clear and unanimous understanding that he would vote for Mr Massey’s amendment to the Address-in-Reply, and that once that vole had been given, he would be free to vote as he considers best on any other question that may arise.

PAYNE AND HIS PLEDGE. “THE WORM THAT TURNED.” Nai j u<;k, Feb. 23. Mr Payne’s broken pledges are of some considerable interest here. The Hawkes’ Bay Tribune severely criticises him, and publishes telegrams exchanged with Mr Crowley, the Reform candidate. When Mr Crowley retired iu favour of Mr Hill, the Labour candidate, Mr Payne telegraphed as follows ;

“Crowley, Oppositionist, Napier — “Congratulations on your broad-minded action in stepping down in favour of Inspector Hill. Labour and Opposition have common interest in clean administration and sane finance. “John Payne, “Labour Candidate, Grey Lynn.’’ Following upon the development in the no-conlidence 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 your wire, ‘Fveu a worm will turn.’ The comedian sang — That even a worm will turn, ’tis said. An absurdity as you will learn. If the worm gets under a hobnailed boot Now how’s the poor worm going to turn ? “Yours with a wriggle on —Payne,

the worm. Mr Crowley immediately re plied :

“ Could understand you turning il squeezed by Farmer Bill’s hobnails, but why wriggle under the dainty hoof of the ‘ginger-bread aristocracy’ ?”

Labour men here generally believe that Mr Payne has committed political suicide.

Referring to Mr Payne’s political somersault the Hastings Tribune says: For the period between now aud the dissolution Mr Payne should be provided with a rotary chair aud be compelled to wear Tom Moore’s “Nature Label” :

“When 1 composed the fustian brain 01 this redoubted Captain Vain, 1 put therein some small discernmg, A grain of sense, a grain ot learning ; And when I saw the void behind, I filled it up with froth and wind.” Possibly the electors of Grey Lynn will now realise what they have done. They kicked out the man who threw up his Ministerial honours, the emoluments of office and the administrative work he loved, because the Government he was connected with had become a shallow, worthless sham, devoid of the true principles ot Liberalism, and in his place they elected what ? —’Payne.