HONORARY WORK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 68, 21 March 1935, Page 11

HONORARY WORK.

LEFT CABINET RANK.

MR. F. H. STEWART'S ALTRUISM. AIDING THE UNEMPLOYED. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, March 14. When the Federal Parliament met after the last election, there was considerable uncertainty about the position and the official status of Mr. F. H. Stewart. Before Mr. Lyons "went to the country," Jlr. Stewart was a member of the Cabinet, holding the portfolio of Commerce. But when the House reassembled and the new Cabinet was formed, the name of Mr. Stewart did not appear in the list of Ministers. It was announced first that he was to hold a special post as Director of Unemployment, for which he is well fitted, being a man of wide industrial experience and a large employer of labour himself. Subsequently, however, his title was changed to "Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Employment," and ' members of the Opposition were very anxious to know precisely what his functions and his standing might be, and why Mr. Lyons had not made him a "full-powered" Minister again. Could Have Had Portfolio. The Prime Minister explained that Mr. Stewart might have had a portfolio if he had desired it, but that lie preferred the appointment which he now holds; and the new title conferred upon him gave him a higher Parliamentary status than if he had been known simply as Director of Employment. But the Labour members, suspecting an attempt to depreciate the importance of the workers, were much annoyed because the Prime Minister would not allow questions to be directed to the new UnderSecretary, but insisted on answering them himself—thus emphasising the distinction between the position of Mr. Stewart and that of a "fully-fledged" Minister. At the same time, Mr. Lyons told the House that Mr. Stewart had taken over his new duties voluntarily, preferring to have a relatively free hand, rather than accept the position—and the j salary—of a Cabinet Minister.

It happens that Mr. Stewart is a comparatively wealthy man, and can affovd to do without perquisites of that sort. Moreover, the number of Ministers had been increased from 13 to 14, and the addition of Mr. Stewart would have made 15 —and as the salaries of Ministers arc paid out of a lump sum "appropriated" for that purpose, this would have meant that all Ministerial incomes would have.fallen. Also, Mr. Stewart, who is a most loyal Nationalist, realised that the addition of his name to the list would mean an unduly large proportion of U.A.P. men in Cabinet, and for this the Country party would certainly demand compensation. For all these reasons Mr. Stewart decided to keep out of the Ministry, but to do the work of the Employment office in an honorary capacity —a public-spirited decision, which certainly did him great credit. But he had another reason for this act of self-abnegation, which was not to appear till' some time later. Vigorous Beginning. Not even Mr. Stewart's most hostile critics could deny that he set about his work in a vigorous and businesslike fashion. His own business connections arc in Parramatta and Sydney, and he started operations by getting into touch with the secretary of the New South Wales Labour Council and the president of the Union Secretaries' Association. He then invited the leaders of all industrial organisations in Sydney to meet him along with these officials to discuss the causes of unemployment and suggest remedies.

Later, he communicated with the various State Governments, and held conferences with Mr. Duiiningliam, the New South Wales Minister of Labour and Industry.

The outcome of all this was the decision of the Federal Government to set up a special commission to investigate industrial conditions on a national scale. Finally, after a conference with Mr. Stevens (New South Wales) and Mr. Butler (South Australia), Mr. Stewart drafted a schedule of public works which will absorb the greater part of the £5,000,000 loan made available by the Commonwealth to find work for as many unemployed as possible before the coming winter. Farm for Unemployed Boys. All this may serve to show that Mr. Stewart has taken his duties very seriously, and has displayed great energy in grappling with the unwieldy problem of unemployment. It happens, however, that he is exceptionally well placed to secure an all-round view of the situation. For while he has employed labour on a large scale in towns, he is also a land owner, with a direct interest in primary production, and considerable personal experience of its difficulties. He is to be absent in Europe on a tour for seven months, and during his stay abroad he has handed over his model farm at Dundas —a very valuable and well-equipped property — to the promoters of the New South Wales Rural Employment Scheme for boys, to provide training for 200 youths in pastoral and agricultural work.

But Mr. Stewart may be able to do more for the primary producer while he is in England than if lie were still discharging his official duties here. For though he is not officially attached to Mr. Lyons' mission, he intends to be available to supply information and to give the Prime Minister any assistance in his power. The Real Reason. At this point, curiously enough, the principal reason which induced • Mr. Stewart to decline Ministerial office last year has now disclosed itself. Last week a farewell luncheon was tendered to him at the Hotel Australia, and in his speech he referred to the announcement published that day that the issue of permits for the export of lamb and mutton to Britain had been suspended. He told his hearers that as Minister of Commerce a year ago he had realised that this development was inevitable, and that he had. decided that he could do more to champion the rights of our primary producers in such matters if he were not bound by political ties and responsibilities such as Ministerial rank entails. Of course, as Minister he would have gone with Mr. Lyons to London as one of the official representatives of the Commonwealth. But he believes that he will be able to effect more by going "in a semi-private capacity," and whether his proposal is right on this point or not it is certain that Mr. Lyons will have ill him a loyal and courageous ally.