MR PAYNE M.P. UNDER REVIEW.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1013, 29 February 1912, Page 4

MR PAYNE M.P. UNDER REVIEW.

Very few Parliamentary representatives have come in for such sweeping press condemnation as has the Labour member for Grey Lynn, as a result of his broken platform pledges. We have reason to believe that the other Labour M’s.P., who were also pledged to vote against the Governmeut had determined to act with Payne, but the latter was first in the firing line and as a result came in for the brunt of the broadsides, while the others hung back. Payne has been severely chastised by all sections of the press. Thus the Taranaki News (Liberal) : “Mr Payne, who declared his intention in the House to support the Governmeut iu preference to the Opposition, whom he charged with leading him astray, gave utterance to statements that are difficult to reconcile with his previous ravings. He does not seem to have mauy settled convictions, one way or the other, and will probably throw over the leader he now supports with the same celerity as the one he has just forsaken,” The Danuevirke Advocate (Liberal): “We are not enamoured of Mr Payne as a legislator, and considering that the electors could have chosen the Hon. George Fowlds in his place, it is our mature opinion that be ought never to have been one.” Woodville Examiner (Liberal) : “If the Opposition does not see its way to run a man with a chance of winning the Grey Lynn seat, all its strength will be exerted to ejecting Mr John Payne, and the general verdict will be, ‘Serve him right.’ ” The Post’s gallery special refers thus to Mr Payne’s speech on Thursday; “It was a weird address, half read Irom large folios, and half spoken freely. The voicing had not much variety of tone, but was very deliberate and clear, with au underlying suggestion of at least elocutionary power. Whatever members aud the public may think of Mr Payne, he will be found the possessor of a sharp tongue in debate. His eccentricity seems rather to be studied than natural to the man. He knows the uses of advertisement, though his present place on the political hoarding may not be coveted. His favourite phrase for the Opposition was “the party not in power.” His final excuse for himself was; “I am here for measures, not for men.” Mr Harris, Waitemata’s young member, acted as the Opposition’s executioner on Grey Lynn’s confessed pledge-breaker. There was much of the heavy-father manner about Mr Harris, but his diction had the dignity of righteous indignation. Mr Payne had put his head on the block, and the axe was swung by a strong steady hand. Mr Harris kicked the remains. While Waitemata’s indictment was being thundered, Mr Payne sat as still as a statue, aud apparently as indifferent to the punishment. He might have been trying to think of rhymes for the epithets hurled at him ; his face gave no sign of any mental distress.”