His father was clerk to a solicitor, and Payne himself initially took up office employment, but later migrated to New Zealand.

[1] In the 1911 general election, Payne stood for Parliament, contesting the seat of Grey Lynn on a left-wing platform for the original Labour Party.

Accusations were made that he had been bribed, and although these were later withdrawn, Payne's relationship with Reform was severely damaged.

Payne was a supporter of New Zealand's participation in the war, including the introduction of conscription, which other leftists fiercely opposed.

He lived in Australia until 1935, and served as private secretary to Jack Lang, the Labor Party Premier of New South Wales for a time.