WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 8 November 1932, Page 7

WELLINGTON TOPICS

NEW ZEALANDERS AT HOME.

HEART TO HEART.

(Special Correspondent).

WELLINGTON, November 5

It was a very happy inspiration which brought the executive of the New Zealand Society in London a, month or so ago to invite a number of people of consequence to a luncheon in the great metropolis- to meet Mr, Downie Stewart, the, Dominion's Minister pf Finance whose mission to the Mother Country was of . even more consequence t'lian was his attendance at the Ottawa Conference, where, as one of his colleagues has said, he talked little and did much. A representative of t*-.e London “Evening Standard’’ paid him an even higher tribute at the conclusion of the Society’s entertainment. “The best ®f the speakers at the luncheon,” he' said, ‘‘was the guest of honour, who made one of the finest Empire speeches I have heard. He has no gestures, but his voice is even and sympathetic. His tribute to the British race was all the more effective because it was without a trace of rodomontade.” Here is praise indeed. NEW ZEALAND’S TRIBUTE. There were many passages in Mr Stewart’-d speech at the High Commissioner’s gathering one would like to quote and even reiterate, but one or two sentence, s must suffice. “I would like on behalf of Nsw Zealand,” said the Minister of Finance, with knowledge that gave weight to his words, “to express our admiration at the courage and tenacity with which Great Britain is standing up to the overwhelming difficulties with which she is faced. I can hardly convey to you any adequate idea of the inspiration and example it is to us to observe the way in which industrial, commercial, and financial and: international problems of the greatest complexity and intricacy are handled rith patient)., and dogged courage and political sagacity which, in our oninion, at any rate are unrivalled.” This was a message to the Mother Country that hot always has been conveyed to it with the same tact and emphasis. “OUR SPIRITUAL HOME.” Having quoted an American writer who stated ai little while ago that Great Britain alone had learned the paradoxical secret that if you wished to bind men you must leave them free, Mr Stewart maintained that the transcendent genius of Great Britain was that it reconciled apparently incompatible interests - and inspiration! in the. service n Zealand,” he said, “regard Britain not- only as being the financial leader of the world by virtue of he! integrity and probity, but, what is ot still more supreme importance, she maintains the moral leadership of the world, and if peace, order, and prosperity are to be restored to a troubleo world, we believe, that it will b: through the example and leadership of this great country which we regard as out spiritual home,” Mr Stewart showed himself to be not only a capable financier, but also a broad headed earnest son of the Empire. FURTHER APPRECIATION. The “Poet”’ referring to Mr Stewart’s triumph has no further bouquets to distribute at the moment. “Everything depends upon the man, the occasion and the use he makes of it,” the evening paper says, “and at the New Zealand Society’s luncheon the three elements were so happily combined as to make the speech of the chief guest yiie of the most memorable of all the utterances delivered on the Dominion’s behalf since the days of the war. In the dual capacity of Minister of Finance and Minister of Customs.. Mr Stewart had been rendering his country and the Empire invaluable, though poorly advertised, service at the Ottawa Conference. From Ottawa he had proceeded to London on a financial mission of the first importance. From every point of view the result was a brilliant success.” For the present nothing more than this can be said, but it is fairly safe to assume that the Dominion has been well served,