PARALLEL INCIDENT

Hokitika Guardian, 26 January 1933, Page 8

PARALLEL INCIDENT

RESIGNATION OF HON. STEWART The decision of Mr Stewart to resign Ministerial! office because of bis disagreement rvitli certain aspects of Gover.ne'Ut' policy recalls the siniilar course followed bv Sir George Fowlds in September, 1911. Such incidents have been rare in the recent political history of Now Zealand, and Sir George’s action in surrendering office for a principle caused a profound impression at the time. Sir George, who represented Grey Lynn in Parliament, joined the "Ward Cabinet in August, 1,900, as Minister of Education and Health, and in the ensuing live,, years he administered for varying terms the departments of Customs, Defence, Justice, Mental Hospitals, Hospital and Charitable Aid and State Fir.o Insurance. Sir George’s announcement of Ids resignation came like a bolt from the blue. There bad been no personal difference between him and his Cabinet colleagues. However, Sir George showed in his final speech from the Ministerial benches that lie was dissatisfied with the attitude of the Liberal Party and said lie considered its policy unprogressive in the light of his own political principles. Sir George lost his seat in Parliament by 31 votes at the second ballot in the general election at the end of 1911. The Liberal Party was also defeated.