William Downie Stewart, Jr.
William Downie Stewart (29 July 1878 – 29 September 1949) was a New Zealand Finance Minister, Mayor of Dunedin and writer.
Early life
Stewart was born in Dunedin in 1878. His father was William Downie Stewart, a lawyer and politician. His mother was Rachel Hepburn, daughter of George Hepburn.[1] His sister was Rachelina (Rachel) Hepburn Armitage.[2]
Political career
| Parliament of New Zealand | ||||
| Years | Term | Electorate | Party | |
| 1914–1919 | 19th | Dunedin West | Reform | |
| 1919–1922 | 20th | Dunedin West | Reform | |
| 1922–1925 | 21st | Dunedin West | Reform | |
| 1925–1928 | 22nd | Dunedin West | Reform | |
| 1928–1931 | 23rd | Dunedin West | Reform | |
| 1931–1935 | 24th | Dunedin West | Reform | |
Downie Stewart was the author of a number of books.[1] He and the American economist James Edward Le Rossignol of the University of Denver published State socialism in New Zealand in 1910. A reviewer called the book "an illuminating study of the remarkable series of instructive experiments in socialistic legislation, for which New Zealand has become conspicuous, together with that Australian Commonwealth, which is its nearest neighbour."[3]
Downie Stewart was Mayor of Dunedin (1913–1914).[1] He represented the Dunedin West electorate from 1914 to 1935.[4] His father had previously represented the Dunedin West electorate.[4]
Minister of Finance and resignation
Downie Stewart was Finance Minister in 1931–1933. He resigned after the devaluation of the New Zealand currency, a measure he opposed.[1][5][6] Downie Stewart stood in the 1935 election as an Independent National candidate.
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Dale, Stephanie. "Stewart, William Downie - Biography". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
- ↑ Wilkie, Yvonne M. "Rachelina Hepburn Armitage". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved December 2011.
- ↑ L.L.P. (1911). "State Socialism in New Zealand". Journal of the Royal Statistical Society (Wiley) 74 (7): 754–756. doi:10.2307/2339748. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Scholefield 1950, p. 141.
- ↑ Wood, p. 118
- ↑ Burdon, 'New Dominion', p. 161
References
- Scholefield, Guy (1950) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 (3rd ed.). Wellington: Govt. Printer.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Francis Bell |
Attorney-General 1926 1931–1933 |
Succeeded by Frank Rolleston |
| Preceded by Thomas Sidey |
Succeeded by George Forbes | |