ESTABLISHED 1875. Manawatu Daily Times The Oldest Manawatu Journal. Conducted by E. D. HOBEN. Published Every Morning. WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 27, 1911 PAYNE'S PENALTIES.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 1499, 27 December 1911, Page 4

ESTABLISHED 1875. Manawatu Daily Times The Oldest Manawatu Journal. Conducted by E. D. HOBEN. Published Every Morning. WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 27, 1911 PAYNE'S PENALTIES.

It is quite evident that whatever other element may be introduced into the political situation Mr Massey's protege, Mr Payne who Mr Fowliis slid, was preferred to himself by the electors of Grey Lyon in a fit of temporary msutal absrration is goiug to supply the humor. He lial cnly been a few hours elected, more or less, when he intimated, aa we quoted yesterday, that Ward might contiuue Premier if he reconstructed his Ministry with the four Labor men ou top. Otherwisa Mr Payne would employ Massey. He forgot to mention that Massoy's 37 or Ward's 37, or whatsver the figures are or are going to he, might equally all require to b3 "ou top'' in a reconstructed Ministry and then the Grey Lyun Napoleou aud his phalanx of four would be rather de trop. But "The Yoioe of Labor," which we also quoted yesterday and which is the official organ of Labor in Nnv Zealand, telegraphed Mr Payne protesting against his assumption of the right ta speak for the Labor party and pointing out that it was the Reform party's vote whioh hal put Mr Payne on his present giddy pinnacle, Mr Payne promptly sent what the Napier Press Association Bgcnt describes as a "vigorous reply," in wliioh lie denounced the "Voice of the People's" message as "au irn pertinent wire consisting of a mixture of mushy drivel and bluff." Meantime he has called a conferenoe of the Independent and Labor members for the Grand Hotel, Wellington, for tho 2nd pros and he thus mod(stlv sets ont his attitude

"1, That we can, as it were, present an nltimntnm to the Premier, requiring him to abdicate iu favour of a Labor Premier, ami assist such Labor Premier in distracting a Lab t Cabinet, taking in the other tluoe Labor members. Ia this connection I would support any of the other thrae Lab-r members being chosen as Premier, provided that the portfolios of FiDaces, Education, Pablio Worts, Hesltli and Custom were allotted to Labor members. "2. If this .ultimatum be not complied with by the Premier, the only courßs open to us is to compel a foil inquiry iuto the finances of the Domioiou by voting the Ward Administration oat by our support of a no-ooulideuce motion moyed by Mr Massey."

Yon 536 Mr Payne, as a picture showmau, realises that you can't prevent any other pioture showmau breathing the Dominion air, therefore lie doesn't insist that he should ba made Premier right off, provided lie Is given an important portfolio and one of his mates replaces Ward. If this is done the present 'infamous' system of ficance may continue—with Mr Payne as "U'inance Minister." But if it isn't the nefarious practices must be exposed by "a full onqniry into the finanots." The double-dyed Villain War.' need expect no meruy from the virtuous Payne—unless he makes Payne and IX senior partners.