AN ULTIMATUM.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1320, 26 December 1911, Page 5

AN ULTIMATUM.

PILL FOR THE PREMIER. WHAT MR. PAYNE PROPOSES. THREE PORTFOLIOS WANTED. (By TclcErapa-Press ' Association.) Napier, December 25. .C s ..ii e aJ } interview given to tho Uawkos Bay Hornld," ami telegraphed to all parts of the Dominion, Mr. J. Pi'vue, M.P. for Grey Lynn, lias aroused (ho iro of <i taction of the Labour iwrly. On Saturday ho received tho tolJowing telegram from Auckland:—"Wβ most emphatically protest ugniiut your statement regarding tho Now Zealand Labour party. If you choose to piny up l» Uio revolutionary Socialist handl'ul that is your all'nir, but wo would point out, ill unmistakable terras, that you must not try to do it at tho cspenso of tho Labour party. The 'so-callud Labour parly,' na you enceringly term it, is the political parly of organised lnbour, and was formed by a Dominion Confci-oneo of Trades Councils, and don't you run away with, the Revolutionary Socialist notion that tho Labour parly is going to let \oa, or anyone else, walk over it. That gnmo was tried in Parncll, but it didn't worknot even with tho full support of. all tho federation croud. Your stateinont to tho 'Uawkc's Bay Herald' rcpraon.tM.ivn that you were elected by Federation men. is incorrect. You were elected by the Reform party's vote, and we expect political honesty." (Signed "Voico of J<nbotir"), ... To this telegram Mr. Payne fent the following vigorous reply:—"Just received most impertinent wire from you consisting of a mixture of mushy drivel and blulT. Kindly keep that sort of communication lor those you nre likely In mislead. If J. have uny more of it. I shall you through, tlic publio press to publihh your Dominion roll-call of the so-culled Lubour party, and then w<> shall sen what we tluill see.. (Sigurd) Payne—tho elected of the workers of Cirey Lynn, and not thn elected of ■•. tho Reform' parly, as stated by the spiuc-lo<-s individual who hides his name behind tho 'Voice of Labour , uoni Uβ plume." . Mr. Payne has now wriHcn to thu other three Labour members suggesting a meeting at tho Grand Hotel, Wellington, on Jauuary 2 lo discuss tho position. In his letter he sAyt:-"It occurs to rc.s that probably tnc Independent niernbem would like lo meet the tour Labour members, and I am writing thoso gentlemen, suggesting that they inset us on the same evening in tho same, placo after the Labour meeting. As it may materially intluenco you in deciding whether it m worth your while to meet mo in Wellington, I will now gito on outline of what my attitude would be at &uch a meeting. I should suggest that we arrange to work together in the interests of Labour entirely, without tho interference of any person or persons or organisations outside the House. That 'working together, shall only moan conferring and. discussing Labour matters for the gene, ral good, and in no way bind tho frei and independent action of any Labour member. That this individual freedom of action is absolutely necessary is omnhasised when wo consider that Mr. veitch is the only Labour party rcpriy sentative, that Mr. Robertson is a.'Socialist member, that Mr. Hindmarsh is ft Labour member with jiarty leanings in » certain direction, and that I myself am a Labour member without pnrty predilections of any kind, the welfare of the worker being my only desideratum. Next, I should urge that wo fully recoguiss and act upon the extraordinary circumstauces surrounding tho position of Hi* four Labour members. That position embraces the following matters:— "(1) That we can, as it wore, present an ultimatum to tho Premier, requiring him to abdicate in favour of a Labour Premier, and assist such Labour Premier, in constructing a Labour Cabinet, taking in the other three Labour members. In this connection I would support any of the other three Labour members being chosen as Premier, provided . that ilia portfolios of Finance, Education, Public Works, Health, and Customs, were allotted to Labour members. "(2) If this ultimatum be not complied with by the Premier, ■' the only course open to us is to conipol a full inouiry into the finances of tho Dominion by voting tho Ward Administration out by our support of a no-conudenee motion'moved br Mr. Masscy."