The Manawatu Herald. Saturday, March 18, 1916. MR PAYNE AND THE MINISTER FOR DEFENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1524, 18 March 1916, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Saturday, March 18, 1916. MR PAYNE AND THE MINISTER FOR DEFENCE.

Mr John Payne, M.P., is a political treak. One never knows where he is going to break out next. Recently he circularised every member of Parliament suggesting that that august body should demand the resignation of the Hon. Jas. Allen, Minister for Defence. The replies from Parliamentarians to this political Jack-in-the-box politician’s mild suggestion would make interesting reading. Here is one from Mr McCombs the Radical member for Lyttelton, which is not very encouraging : —“I am free to vote Mr Allen or Mr Massey out to-morrow, and would do so with pleasure ; but when I am asked to support a resolution calling for the resignation of Mr Allen, in order that another member of the Reform Party may be appointed in his stead, I feel bound to decline, and say that I do not know of any other member of the Reform Party who would make a more capable Minister for Defence, I am no apologist for Mr Allen ; I think Mr Allen has made mistakes in administration, and I do not think the pay and pensions for soldiers are as liberal as they ought to be. But every unprejudiced man must admit that Mr Allen’s administration will compare more than favourably with what is taking place in connection with Defence matters elsewhere. I have seen evidence in certain quarters of a decided party move to write down everything Mr Allen does, and to magnify the importance of the services rendered by another member or the Cabinet. This may be legitimate party warfare, but it is not consistent as between supporters of the National Government. I would vote the whole Cabinet out to-morrow in favour of a Labour Government if I had a chance, but I am not prepared to vote Mr Allen out of favour for another Reformer.”