FINANCE MINISTER

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 125, 23 November 1932, Page 6

FINANCE MINISTER

iIISSION IN LONDON

FINE IMPRESSION MADE

NOTABLE CONFERENCES

(From "The~- Post's" Representative.) . LONDON, 20th October.

On the eye of his departure ',foji\.New Zealand, the Hon. W. Downie Stewart expressed the opinion that hisf.visit^to. London had indeed been very';'well worth while. He had been enabled to meet many people of eminence in the world of finance, and one of : the last men in this category to spend soihe time with him at the Metropole. yesterday afternoon was Mr. J. M. Keynes, Fellow and Bursar of King's! College, Cambridge, editor' of. the " Economic Journal, '' and 'secretary of the Royal Economic Society. He; is one of England's outstanding economists. ' :

Mr._ Stewart said: that as the result of this visit - ; there is a much clearer understanding of the .present conditions in the Dominion, whose, .wholehearted efforts to cope ...with prevailing economic difficulties are highly commended in London circles. . ■ «..

Everywhere on every. Occasion the Minister of Finance has been delighted to realise how high New Zealand stands in the estimation of leaders of finance and politics, .as well, as of manufacturers, and how real is the affection felt for the country and its people by all classes and-all interests here. Busiricss men realise "how much • New Zealand has tried to do for the furtherance, of trade with the Mother Country. •■ At the annual dinner of the Society of Motor • Manufacturers and Traders, Limited, of Great Britain, when Mr. Downie, Stewart was one of the three speakers, numbers of prominent business men made a point of coming to him to congratulate him on his speech and to express their warm admiration for the Dominion. On that occasion he had a very popular and rousing re-' ception, cheers being given immediately his name was mentioned by the "toastmaster—an evidence of' the regard'in which Mr. Stewart is held in London. The function, one of the most notable gatherings of the year, takes place. in connection with the Motor Show. ■ ; post-war impressions; ~. Like so -many; others before him, Mr. Stewart proudly acknowledges the debt people of the Dominion owed to the men of the'N.Z.E.F. during the war. They-were fine missioners for their, country, and the good record they left behind them" here will be a lasting one. This record indeed is still an enormous factor in the goodwill which exists in all branches of finance and commerce, as well as in political ' and private circles. : . City men were all glad to call on Mr. Stewart at Ms hotel, and so save him the fatigue of gettinjj about London. During his stay ,he was able to meet, among ~others, .Mr. Montagu, Norman (director of the Bank of England), as well as the heads of the other banking institutions that go to make up "The Big -Five." He had conversations also with some of the best known stockbroking firms, and he has had conversations with many other people with Other interests. Indeed, one may gay that he has been most cosmopolitan, in regard to the people he has met. Among numerous callers at the hotel was M. Henri Spahlinger, who: was 4 take» to meet Mr. Downie Stewart by Major E. S. Harston.'. The use of M. Spahlinger's vaccine for cattle has now been made compulsory in Northern Ireland, and it was useful for the/New Zealand visitor to meet the man whose name has been so prominently before the world for so long, and: whose antitubereulosis treatment for animals is now accepted. M.'" Spahlinger Is ■still working in London-in the interests of human sufferers; INTERESTING DINNER PARTY. Sir Abe Bailey, the -well-known South African mine owner, ■ entertained ;Mr. Stewart to dinner at his residence, 38, Bryanston square, on Monday, guests invited to meet the Finance Minister of New. Zealand being: Sir John Chancellor,- Sir Henry Strakoseh, Viscount •Elibank, Sir Evelyn Wallers, Mr. Stanley Bruce, Sir Harry Batterbee, ;. Sir Thomas Wilf ord, Sir Weston Jarvis, the Earl' of Lucan, Sir Edward . Harding, Mr. J. W. Downie, Sir Austen Chamberlain, Sir. L. S. Amery, .Mr. D. Christopherscn, Sir. Howard D'Egville, and Mr. John' Bailey. i< ■ ;- Yesterday he'had luncheon with the Right Hon. J. H. Thomas. A. friend who has seen a good deal of Mr. Stewart during his stay considers that he has done well on the mission which" brought him. He has certainly made a very good impression, and to use the. expression applied to him by .an astute City man; he. has never been "caught out." His Scottish caution has been very helpful, and this, combined with a natural modesty, has led him to be spoken of as a charming personality, as well as an able Finance Minister. Indeed, were Mr. Bownie Stewart to return to England to take part in the important' coming Economic Conference to be held in February, his presence would be 'markedly welcome and undoubtedly helpful. This is a suggestion which the New Zealand Government would do well to consider seriously.