THE NEW MINISTER

Otago Witness, Issue 3495, 1 March 1921, Page 21

THE NEW MINISTER

MR W. DOWNIE STEWART. WELLINGTON, February 22. A lengthy Cabinet meeting was held today, after which the Prime Minister announced that Mr W. Downie Stewart, M.P. for Dunedin West, is to be the new Minister in place of Sir William Herries, who will resign the xiortfolios of Labour, Native Affairs, Marine, and Customs, but not his membership of the Executive Council, before leaving for the Old Country. Mr Stewart is to take over the portfolio of Internal Affairs from the Hon. G. J. Anderson, and will hold one other, while Mr Anderson retains Labour and the Government Printing Department portfolios, and will hold one other. The readjustments are to be complete before the House meets on March 10. The Hon. William Downie Stewart is the younger son of the late Hon. William Downie Stewart, and was born in Dunedin in 1878. He was educated at the Otago Boys’ High School and the Otago University, where he graduated LL.B. in 1900. In tho same year he entered into partnership in the firm of Downio Stewart arid trict and sympathy with its requirements. Payne. He served as a councillor for I>unedin, and was elected Mayor in 1913. He was elected to Parliament in 1914, and re-elected in 1910.