POLITICAL

Hokitika Guardian, 27 January 1933, Page 3

POLITICAL

HON W. D. STEWART

FUTURE ACTIVITIES'

WELLINGTON, January 20.

What part will the former Minister of Finance, the, Hon. W. Downie 'Stewart, p'.ay in the future polities of the Dominion? That is a question.which is being freely asked in all political ciicles just now; but Mr Downie Stewart prefers not to disclose his •plans in advance. , “My future action's will depend on the course of events,” he said when questioned on the subject this evening. He would not yet intimate liow his vote would b. 3 cast if the Labour Par- y moved a no-confidence motion against the Government on the exchange issue, and he said he had given no authority to a statement published to-dav to the eh'ec-.t that lie had determined to vote against- the Government. So far as lie knew, he was still a member of the Government Party.

Mr Downie Stewart implied, however, that his mind was made up regarding the action he would take when the Bill indemnifying the banks against a. loss on the exchange operations appeared in the House. Apparently the firs: public intimation of his intentions will be made in the House; but whether than speech will he made in the no-confideice debate or on the bank indemnification Bill will depend on the circumstances.

“There was no significance-''in the fact, that, I dd not attend to-day’s caucus,” said Mr Bownie Stewart. “I was. present throughout the. whole of yesterday’s meeting; but I was obligejJ to spend to-day attending to correspondence.” The notice “Minister for Finance and Customs” no longer ado-rns the entrance to 'Mr Bownie Stewart’s . suite of offices. However,, he is still in occupation of h:s Ministerial qnaiteis, for apparently no other claimant ds yet in the offing..i TtU'oranis and letters commending hijs stand on the exchange issue continue to reach him in large numbers. It is understood that the congratulatory messages are lidt confined to personal friend® and commercial interests, hut include many from those engaged in farming.