John Payne (politician)
Encyclopedia
John Payne was a New Zealand
politician.
, and Payne himself initially took up office employment, but later migrated to New Zealand. There, he worked as a farmhand and a goldminer before turning to accountancy. He taught finance in Auckland
for a time, and was also involved in the early film
business in New Zealand.
, Payne stood for Parliament, contesting the seat of Grey Lynn
on a left-wing platform. Among his proposals were free tertiary education, legislation to increase the power of workers, an expansion of social welfare, a state bank
, and the abolition of the Legislative Council
. He was elected, defeating George Fowlds
of the Liberal Party
in a run-off.
In Parliament, Payne supported the Liberals, despite apparently having agreed to support the Reform Party
in exchange for their backing in the Grey Lynn run-off. Accusations were made that he had been bribed, and although these were later withdrawn, Payne's relationship with Reform was severely damaged. In 1913, when the Social Democratic Party
was established, Payne unofficially allied himself with it, but did not join. In the 1914 election
, Payne was re-elected with Social Democrat support—along with two Social Democrats and three members of the United Labour Party
, Payne was part of the loose left-wing grouping in Parliament.
broke out, however, tensions later arose between Payne and his fellow leftists. Payne was a supporter of New Zealand's participation in the war, including the introduction of conscription
, which other leftists fiercely opposed. Payne was also criticised for his strong anti-German sentiment. When the Social Democrats and the United Labour Party formed the modern Labour Party
in 1916, Payne declined to join.
until 1935, and served as private secretary to the Labor Party
Premier of New South Wales
for a time. After his return to New Zealand, he became a supporter of Labour dissident John A. Lee
, and wrote articles for Lee's publication. He died in 1942 from heart failure.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
politician.
Early years
Payne was born in Manchester, England. His father was clerk to a solicitorSolicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
, and Payne himself initially took up office employment, but later migrated to New Zealand. There, he worked as a farmhand and a goldminer before turning to accountancy. He taught finance in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
for a time, and was also involved in the early film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
business in New Zealand.
Member of Parliament
In the 1911 general electionNew Zealand general election, 1911
The New Zealand general election of 1911 was held on Thursday, 7 and 14 December in the general electorates, and on Tuesday, 19 December in the Māori electorates to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 18th session of the New Zealand Parliament...
, Payne stood for Parliament, contesting the seat of Grey Lynn
Grey Lynn (New Zealand electorate)
Grey Lynn is a former New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, in the city of Auckland.-Population centres:The electorate is urban, and comprises a suburb in the central part of Auckland.-Election results:...
on a left-wing platform. Among his proposals were free tertiary education, legislation to increase the power of workers, an expansion of social welfare, a state bank
State bank
A state bank is generally a financial institution that is chartered by a state. It differs from a reserve bank in that it does not necessarily control monetary policy , but instead usually offers only retail and commercial services.A state bank that has been in operation for five years or less is...
, and the abolition of the Legislative Council
New Zealand Legislative Council
The Legislative Council of New Zealand was the upper house of the New Zealand Parliament from 1853 until 1951. Unlike the lower house, the New Zealand House of Representatives, the Legislative Council was appointed.-Role:...
. He was elected, defeating George Fowlds
George Fowlds
Sir George Matthew Fowlds CBE was a New Zealand politician of the Liberal Party.-Member of Parliament:George Fowlds represented the City of Auckland electorate from 1899 to 1902, and then the Grey Lynn electorate from 1902 to 1911....
of the Liberal Party
New Zealand Liberal Party
The New Zealand Liberal Party is generally regarded as having been the first real political party in New Zealand. It governed from 1891 until 1912. Out of office, the Liberals gradually found themselves pressed between the conservative Reform Party and the growing Labour Party...
in a run-off.
In Parliament, Payne supported the Liberals, despite apparently having agreed to support the Reform Party
New Zealand Reform Party
The Reform Party, formally the New Zealand Political Reform League, was New Zealand's second major political party, having been founded as a conservative response to the original Liberal Party...
in exchange for their backing in the Grey Lynn run-off. Accusations were made that he had been bribed, and although these were later withdrawn, Payne's relationship with Reform was severely damaged. In 1913, when the Social Democratic Party
Social Democratic Party (New Zealand)
The Social Democratic Party of New Zealand was an early left-wing political party. It existed only a short time before being amalgamated into the new Labour Party...
was established, Payne unofficially allied himself with it, but did not join. In the 1914 election
New Zealand general election, 1914
The New Zealand general election of 1914 was held on 10 December to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 19th session of the New Zealand Parliament. A total number of 616,043 voters were registered, of which 84.7% voters turned out to vote....
, Payne was re-elected with Social Democrat support—along with two Social Democrats and three members of the United Labour Party
United Labour Party (New Zealand)
The United Labour Party of New Zealand was an early left-wing political party. Founded in 1912, it represented the more moderate wing of the labour movement. In 1916 it joined with other political groups to establish the modern Labour Party.- Origins :...
, Payne was part of the loose left-wing grouping in Parliament.
Independent
When World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
broke out, however, tensions later arose between Payne and his fellow leftists. Payne was a supporter of New Zealand's participation in the war, including the introduction of conscription
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
, which other leftists fiercely opposed. Payne was also criticised for his strong anti-German sentiment. When the Social Democrats and the United Labour Party formed the modern Labour Party
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
in 1916, Payne declined to join.
Later life
Payne did not seek re-election in the New Zealand general election, 1919, partly for reasons of health. He lived in AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
until 1935, and served as private secretary to the Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
Premier of New South Wales
Premiers of New South Wales
The Premier of New South Wales is the head of government in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The Government of New South Wales follows the Westminster system, with a Parliament of New South Wales acting as the legislature...
for a time. After his return to New Zealand, he became a supporter of Labour dissident John A. Lee
John A. Lee
John Alfred Alexander Lee DCM was a New Zealand politician and writer. He is one of the more prominent avowed socialists in New Zealand's political history.-Early life:...
, and wrote articles for Lee's publication. He died in 1942 from heart failure.
Further reading
- Labour's Path to Political Independence: the Origins and Establishment of the NZ Labour Party 1900-1919 by Barry GustafsonBarry GustafsonBarry Gustafson is a New Zealand political scientist and historian, and a leading political biographer. He served for nearly four decades as Professor of Political Studies at the University of Auckland, and as Acting Director of the New Zealand Asia Institute from 2004 to 2006.-Politics and...
(1980, Oxford University Press, Auckland) - The New Zealand Liberals: the Years of Power, 1891-1912 (1988, Auckland University Press, Auckland)
- The New Zealand Parliamentary Record: 1840-1984 by J.O. Wilson (1985, Government Printer, Wellington)