PAYMENT OF MEMBERS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 146, 29 September 1910, Page 5

PAYMENT OF MEMBERS

DISCUSSION IN THE OLD COUNTRY. By Cable—Press Association —Copyright. Received .28, .10.25 p.m. London, September 28. There is wide discussion in political circles regarding the payment of members. Mr. F. Smith, in a letter to the newspapers, is .threatening to prevent Liberal and Conservative working men from .earning a .living, unless they finance political doctrines they dislike. He was reluctantly iorced to the opinion that payment of members is the only alternative. Mr.. Arthur Lee .recalls the fact tkat Unionist leaders repudiated payment of members during a debate on May 12th, 1.903. •The Daily .News .twits the Conservativep with sudden conversion, and adds, in regard to the Osiborne judgment, that payment i® only a temporary palliative. The Daily states that payment of members is the open grave of the objectors to the .Osborne judgment, but it is the lesser iof the ,two evils. The Manchester Guardian congratulates Mr.. Smith on .'hi® persisten efforts to galvanise the corpse of Tory democracy. DonMless, 'it adds, he is inspired by the hope of a great increase in the numiber of Tory Protectionist workingmen candidates. The Times is convinced that payment of members is inevitable and etill less desirable. It agrees with Mr. Lee that it is a cynical exhibition of opportunisml, and must do the 'Unionist party barm :&t the pwEk.