From Swagman to Cabinet Minister.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 September 1920, Page 1

From Swagman to Cabinet Minister.

THE CAREER OF HON W. D. S MacDQNALD M.P.

• “From Log Cabin to White House” ' once told, in fact will ever fell, -the 'life ■story of James Garfield, President of the Republic of the United States of America. Not alone fo -that great country is confined -the boundless possibilities which followed pluck, endurance, ■energy, honesty, wifi, conscience, and honor. The greatest statesmen of the world to-day have risen from what are called ’“the ranks,’ in other words men ■of humble, or let us say, common origin have attained the greatest eminence that it is possible for human beings to attain. Just as James Garfield’s life story can be told in the words from “Log Cabin to White House,” so can the life story of William Donald Stuart MacDonald be summarised in the above title, ‘‘From Swagman to Cabinet Minister.” In New Zealand’s political life-there is no more popular and esteemed man than the Hon W. D. S. MacDonald. In New Zealand to-day | there is not a man who can point to a more useful life, a life given to the upliftment of his fellows ,a life of boundless energy, a well-directed'purpose, a life which has been crowned with success, a life which if studied closely provides the answer to the wail of the weakling that the poor man has not a ghost of a chance in the grim struggle for existence.

William Donald Stuart MacDonald was born in Camperdown, Victoria, in 1862. Endowed with a firm mind, physically strong, with ajn optimism abnormal, together with a chin betokening great strength of character, he took to the land as a duck is said to take to water, and in the school of adversity and hard work he gained a practical knowledge of farming life, that is from the point of view of the toiler and the tiller, the farm-hand a,nd the farmer. “Work, hard work, and plenty of it” was the creed he adopted in early life; and the tenets of that creed have been applied to all his actions in his la.tei successful career. “Mac” as a farm worker and shearer, truly typical 0 f the Australian bush or country man, in his time and in the search for work, the crust of the bread of life, became a “sun-downer” or a swaggie. He has “humped his bluey” through bush, “„one on the wallaby” o’er mountain and dale, and nearly 38 years ago decided that New Zealand was the land of promise for him and the day that ‘Mac” landed on New Zealand’s shores, New Zeala'nd gained a practical cattle and sheep man, an agriculturalist to the finger tips, and, needless to relate, such a man soon found liis services m great demand in blazing the track an pioneering and developing the great primary industries of a young and growing‘country. By 1887 he had made .rood. So great was his industry, so competent was the man that the Bank of New Zealand entrusted him with the management of large stations and after five years’ devoted service to the cause of ids masters, he resolved as onlv men of resource and energy resolve that the moment was propitious m hitting out for himself. In 1902 became a pk»»r <* *'« P “7f ? "7 district, and it was inevitable that fiaviim a stake in the country, he would enter °the public life of the country and help turn the wheels of progress Accordingly, he successfully contested seats in the Waipu and Cook County Council, and in due course became chairman of the- Waikoku County Council Polities next appealed to linn an in 1908 he started the career which has made the name of William Donald Stuart MacDonald an object lesson to all men. He became Member for the Bay of Plenty electorate, and in 1912 attained Cabinet rank in the Liberal Ministry formed by “Tam” Mackenzie holding the portfolios of Native Affairs, Public Works and the State Valuations Department. When in 1915 the Liberal Party sank party differences and “all were for the State,” Mr Mac Donald because of bis undoubted cmim for preference became a member of the National Cabinet, holding suchjmportant portfolios as Agriculture, Mines, State Fire Insurance, Tourist Department, Health and Meat Control. In i the absence of Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward Mr MacDonald’s capabilities were further recognised, and he became President of the Board of Trade, Post-master-General, having control of Post and Telegraphs, the Legislature, State Mines and Colleries, Public Buildings and Imperial. Supplies. Moreover as showing the great confidence held m the subject of this, sketch -by all politically associated with him, he became the Act-ing-Leader of the liberal Parti.

4part from the politics, the Hon. W. > S. MacDonald is well known as a sport, and further testimony to his great and estimate worth is to be found the fact that lie is president and life member of more sporting clubs than any other man in this Dominion, and that indeed is saying something. His connection with the Turf in Ne\i Zealand is long and honourable, extending over 35 years, and the patrons of the turf, from the humble flatite to the occupant of the members’ stand, know ■ that “Mac” is always a “trier”. He is 1 as good a judge of horseflesh as can bo found in this dominion or domain of sport, and it is a remarkable feature of human nature that the lover of the gee-gee is• the lover of bis fellow men. Mr MacDonald’s association with the turf in this country has tended towards raising it to its present high level. In : short whatever W. D. K MacDonald has been connected with has prospered thrived proved' useful, and pushed New Zealand along the primrose path of prosperity and plenty. The man has never suffered a defeat in the many es- ’ says be has made towards advancing 1 the interests of his country. He stands 1 for good, sound and efficient govern- ' mcn t. His record is a record of ai man

who had risen from the ranks who did not slum hard and honest toil. • Such is the man who was laid to rest yesterday in his own district. His has been a life* well spent and a race well run. May lie rest in peace, revered and (by all who know him for what he was—-a man among men.