POLITICAL PROPHET

Evening Star, Issue 22146, 28 September 1935, Page 16

POLITICAL PROPHET

LABOUR " m " AT MR STEWART £P*» UmiED Pbsss Assocutio*.] WELLINGTON, September 3T.. Reference to incidents in the political history of the Hon. Downie Stewart in the light of recent remarks at Dunedin was made by Mr J. W. Munro during the financial debate in the House of' Representatives to-day. “ I understand,” , said Mr Munro, “ that Mr Downie Stewart obtained leave from the House on account of urgent public business, and that business evidently was to make a speech condemning the present Government. I wonder whether he is seriously linking up with the Labour Party, because he is what I should term a political prophet. Prior to the 1 1822 elections he analysed the Massey Cabinet and made a statement that if he were returned to Parliament he would support the Government, but would expect a reorganisation of the Cabinet. Sometimes history has a habit of repeating itself. The Government was reorganised on that occasion and Sir Stewart was elevated to Ministerial rank. In his speech at Dunedin Mr Stewart dealt with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance in somewhat caustic vein, and he presumed, as we all presume, that there are only two Ministers in the Cabinet to-day. By the way his reports were displayed in the newspapers it appeared that the Press was trying to herald a new leader. I wonder if political history will repeat itself at the end of the year, and if the member for Dunedin West, aided by the instinct' that makes rats desert a sinking ship, wil become Prime Minister. We sincerely hope not,”