THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1912. MR PAYNE'S POSITION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10564, 21 February 1912, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1912. MR PAYNE'S POSITION.

I Some men are born great. Others | have greatness thrust upon them. Mr John Payne, M.iP., of Grey Lynn, is lone of the "others." The public eye is focu&sed upon him just now, because upon the exercise of his vote on the no-confidence „ motion will largely depend the fate of Wardism. When he was at the hustings, he was opposed to everything that pertained of Ward. At the second ballot, when his political destiny was in the balance, lie ,seciu*ed the support of the Reform Party on a distinct, pledge to vote against the Ministry on a noconfidence motion. Had lie not given this pledge, he would never have been where lie is. He is now endeavouring to square his conscience with that pledge, and it is freely rumoured that lie intends to vote for the. retention of Sir Joseph Ward in power. On Monday evening some of the anti-Reformers of Grey Lynn met solemnly togtther, and passed a resolution demanding .that (their member should vote against Mr Massey's no-confidence motion. This resolution, with others of a similar nature, lias been forwarded to Mr Payne. •Early in his career the elect of Grcv Lyim indignantly resented an attempt to influence bis Parliamentary conduct. What will ho do upon the

present occasion? If ho is possessed of the independence <>f a Britisher, and the backbone of a man, lie will regard the attempt to dictate to him how he shall record his vote as a deliberate insult. He will, in fact, scorn the whole business, and show by his conduct that not only is he ail honourable man. but a man who is quite iiapa-ble of exercising his vote on his own volition. Mr Payne must remember that he was not returned to Parliament by the Labour vote alone. Had he been dependent entirely upon this vote, however, there would be no excuse for his accepting dictation from a handful of his supporters. If Mr Payne votes as W-ard-ite« of Grey Lynn would have him vote, he will immediately sacrifice his indtpeudencc as a member. He will tacitlv submit to the pernicious practice of government hy caucus. Ho will surrender his individuality, stultify himself as a representative of the peoole. and forfeit the respect of a large section of the community. His attitude on the no-confidence motion wiir involve principle as well as honour.