MR. PAYNE'S PROMISE

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1393, 20 March 1912, Page 5

MR. PAYNE'S PROMISE

ASSERTION AND DENIAL-

WHY HE WILL NOT RESIGN.

A HOSTILE CROWD.

ID* Telcsrasli.-Press Association.) Auckland, March 19. Six hundred people who gathered at Kingslnnd (his evening were sadly disappointed ot their expectations of making holiday of the meeting convened by Mr. John Payne, M.P. for Grey Lynn. It was the last of the series announced by him, and tho Jubilee Hall was packed with a crowd that bulged out of tho doorways. Whilo they lasted, tho proceedings were animated and boisterous, but twouty minutes after it was begun the meeting was abruptly terminated bytile chairman (Mr. A. Catley).

There was little encouragement iu tho noisy demonstration, for which Mv. Payne's appearance was the signal. Tho chairman had learned a lesson from his previous experience, lie was brief in his introduction of Mr. Payne.

Tho latter adopted new tactics, stating thai, instead of making a speech, he would answer any questions addressed to him, particularly by thoso who had been hooting.

The first responso to the invitation was from a middle-aged man, who gained much applause by declaring that his vote had been given to Mr. Payno because he had promised to vote against tho Ward Administration.

"Any fool can rnako any assertion," was Mr. Payne's roply. "Substantial* what you bavo said, and I will answer you."

Uproar was let looso at this, and, amidst it, Mr. Payne shouted that there was no question. "I urn going (0 try you to-night," Mr. Payno exclaimed. Amidst the disturbance created by his refusal to answer a similar question, a definite Vtatoment was made that in tha King's Theatre and in tho Tivoli Theatre Mr. Payne had distinctly promised tovota against the Ward Administration. 110 replied that at two meetings he had boon questioned regarding his vote in a probablo no-confideuco division, and, before replying, bad asked "Brought on what grounds?" A voice: You did not. Mr. Payno: Wo shall have a show of hands 011 Unit question. How many of you say I did say "Brought on what grounds"? A man and a woman held up their hands and then hurriedly withdrew them. The'audience roared with derisivo laughter. Mr. Payno interjected that there was no common honesty in the room, and at that cheers were given with great vim for Sir, Massey. A call for cheers for Mr. Payno evoked a chorus of hooting.

Mr. Payno added that he had undertaken to vote for a no-confidence motion on tho land question, but not on one in general terms.

There wero many calls upon Mr. Payn* to resign.

"I will tell you why I will not resign," ho declared at last. "There aro 200 good hard-working peoplo (evidently referring to his election committee) who aro as much tny friends now as they wero beforo tho elections. I have to remain true and loyal to them, and take 110 notice of tho brewer-eum-Fowlds-cum-Opposition mob. I know the hirelings of the brewers aro here to-night packing the meeting."

"Mr. Bung put you in!" was the retort from someone in the audience, and after having been counted out half a dozen times the chairman insisted that the assertion should he substantiated.

Several questions wero asked regarding a. statement made by Mr. Payno at St. Barnabas Hall, Mount Kden, that 110 would vole against tho Ward Administration. He replied that it had been wiped out of existence, for every Minister would resign 011 Thursday, and because after that day tho Prime Minister would be a private member.

Asked if ho had not recently paid off a mortgage of .fcGOO 011 his house, Mr. Payno said the hou=o he occupied belonged to his broth er-in-lnw, and 110 himself had never had a house to mortgage. .

The chairman objected that the question should not havo been asked, but was informed that it caino from "0110 of his own people." Ho then declared the meeting closed.

"And now you can all go out," added Mr. Payue, as tho hostile demonstration which had recurred throughout tho meeting was renewed.

There was some display of ill-will wlien Mr. Payno and his companions left tho hall and fitartod to wall; through the crowd that had waited about. lie was hooted, but there was no iutorfcrcnco tvith him. A police sergeant and a constablo considered it advisable to escort him to a tramcar, and they were followed, by a lurgo section of tho crowd.