Death of Mr. Downie Stewart

Chronicle (Levin), 30 September 1949, Page 7

Death of Mr. Downie Stewart

DUNEDIN, Sept. 29.'After a prolonged illness, one ot Dunedin 's best knowu citizens, Mr Wiitiam Downie Stewart, died yesterday. Born in Dunedin in 1878, Mr Stewart was educated at the Otago Boys' High Schooi and Otago IJniversity where he fiaduated LL.B. Iie was elected to the city council in 1907 and on his fourth term was elected Mayor. Mr Stewart encered Parliament as member for Dunedin West in 1914, his political career oeing broken for war service. _ln 192 J he accepted his first Ministeriai portfolio and in successive (Jabinets heid :uany Ministeriai posts. i'arilf agreements between this country and Canada were uegotiated by Mr Stewart and he also represented JNew Zealand at various Commonwealth relations conferences. His resignation trjin the Coalition Ministry in 1933 followed a disagreement with his ieaders on.the excnange rate poiicy 'hnd iie was defeaied whuu he contested .the Dunedin Vvest seat iri 1935 as liuicpendent Aationaiist. Ln his retirement Mr Stewart devoted iiimseif to autnorslup. iie was a iuemoer oi the Otago Luiversity Louncil and a director ot the JN'ational lnsurance Oo., Perpetuai Trustees isstate anU Ag ency (Jo. and ProviiLent Life Assurauce *Jo. ""Mr.* Nasli;S Tribute. The passing' oi Axr.' Downie Stewart wiii break a Imk m the political history oi aew Zeaianti, of a special kind, said the Dejyuty Prime Minister, Mr. t\ash, tonight. "A great thinlver, keen student and brilliant author, i\lr. Stewart has Jeit bcliind biograplues and other writing ivhich wiii have for many years a leadiug piave in our historical literature," Mr. Nash said. It was his* privilege- -in 1933 to be with Mr. Stewart at the conference of the iustitute oi Paciiic Relations held at Banlf iu Canada. Air. Stewart 's quiet logic, understanding and appreeiat.ion oi the probiems of the Pacillc, won for him the respect of the many distinguished stAtesmen who attended that conference. Air. Nash added that later iie sat under Air. .otew art 's leadership at the British Conunonvvealth Relations Conference in Toronto and there again lus knowledge ox British history and tne piave of the Enited Kingdom and Dominions va us vvidely appreciated and as great as that of any otlier deiegatc. :A • ' All tliose who knew Air. Stewart wiii feel the loss of a personal l'riend, " mid Jlr. Nash. Iie added that every synipathy would go to Air. Stewart s sister now that the break had eome and she had lost her distmguished brother to whose welfare she had for so long devoted her life. Mr. Holland Grleved. "The passing oi Air. Downie Stewart removed trom New Zealand 's public lire, one oi' its most distinguished citi/.ens, ' ' said the Leader of the Opposiliou, Air. Holland. lle added tliat Mr. .Stewart had contributed niore to the welfare of New Zealand than was generally appreciated. He had a brilliant Parliament ary career made all the niore difiicult by his pliysical disabilities I' which he bore with great fortitude. He| was a man of steriing character and expediency played no part in his make-l up. His resignation from 'high Minis- ' terial ofiice on the exchange issue, bore the haiimark of high principle which was always characteristic of this great man. In recent years Air. Stewart was a great contributor to literature and he had one of the lfhest private libraries in New Zealand. The sympathy of all would go out to his sister who had I cared for him all the years. i