FINANCE MINISTER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 281, 28 November 1932, Page 3

FINANCE MINISTER

MISSION IN LONDON FINE IMPRESSION MADE NOTABLE CONFERENCES. LONDON, Oct. 20. Ou tile eve of his departure for New Zealand, the Hon. W. Downie Stewart expressed the opinion that his visit to Loudon had indeed been very wen worth while. He had been enabled to meet many people of eminence in t e world of liuance, and one of the last men in this category to spend some time with him at the Metropole yesterday afternoon was Mr. J. M. Keynes, Fellow and Bursar of King’s College, Cambridge, editor of the Economic Journal, and secretary of the Royal Economic Society. He is one of Eng land’s oustandiug economists. Mr. Stewart said that as the result of the visit there is a much clearer understanding of the present conditions in the Dominion, whose wholehearted efforts to cope with prevailing econo mie dilhcultie are highly commended in London circles. Everywhere on every occasion the Minister of Finance has been delighted to realise how high New Zealand stands in the estimation of leaders of finance and politics, as well as of manufacturers, and how real is the affection felt for the country and its people by all classes and all interests here. Business men realise how mucn New Zealand has tried to do for the furtherance of trade with the Mother Countrty. At the annual dinner of the Society uf Motor Manufacturers and Traders, Limited, of Great Britain, when Mr Downie Stewart was one of the three speakers, numbers of prominent business men made a point of coming to him to congratulate him on his speech and to express their warm admiration for the Dominion. On that occasion he had a very popular and rousing re ception, cheers being given immed* ately his name was mentioned by the toastmaster —an evidence of the regard in which Mr. Stewart is held in London. The function, one of the most notable gatherings of the year, takes place in connection with the Motor Show. Post-War Impressions. Like so many others before him, Mi. Stewart proudly acknowledges the debt people of the Dominion owed to the men of the N.Z.E.F. during the war. They were line missioners for their country, and the good record they left behind them here will be a lasting one. This record indeed is still an enormous factor in the goodwill which exists in all branches of finance and commerce, as well as in political and private circles. City men were all glad to call on Mr. Stewart at his hotel, and so save him the fatigue of getting about London. During his stay he was able to meet, among others, Mr. Montagu Norman (director of the Bank of England), as well as the heads of the other banking institutions that go to make up “The Big Five.” He had conversations also with some of the best known stockbroking firms, and he has had conversa tions with many other people with other interests. Indeed, one may say that he has been most cosmopolitan in regard to the people he has met. numerous callers at the hotel was M. Henri Spatamger, who was taken to meet Mr. Downie Stewart by Major E. S. Harston. The use of M Spahlinger’s vaccine for cattle has now been made compulsory in North ern Ireland, and it was useful for the New Zealand visitor to meet the man whose name has been so prominently before the world for so long, and whoso anti-tuberculosis treatment for ani Dials is now accepted. M. Spahlingcr is still working in London in the inter «sts of human sufferers. Interesting Dinner Party. Sir Abe Bailey, the well-known South African mine owner, entertained Mr. Stewart to dinner at his residence, 38 Bryanston Square, on Monday, guee*. invited to meet the Finance Ministei of New Zealand being: Sir John Chan cellor, Sir Henry Strakosch, X iscouir Elibank, Sir Evelyn Wallers, Mr. Stan-

ley Bruee, Sir Harry Batterbee, Sn Thomas Wilford, Sir Weston Jarvis, the Earl of Lucan, Sir Edward Harding, Air. J. W. Downie, Sir Austen Chamberlain, Air. L. S. Amery, Air. D. Christopherson, Sir Howard D’Egville, and Mr. John Bailey. Yesterday he had luncheon with the Right Hon. J. H. Thomas. A friend who has seen a good dca] of Air. Stewart during his stay considers that he has done well on the mis sion which brought him. He has c<Vtainly made a very good impression and to use the expression applied to him by an astute city man, he has never been “caught out.’’ His Scottish caution has been very helpful, and this, combined with a natural modesty, has led him to be spoken of as a charming personality, as well as an able Finance Minister. Indeed, were Air. Downie Stewart to return to England to take part in the important coming Economic Conference to he held in Feheruary, his presence would be markedly welcome and undoubtedly helpful. This is a suggestion which the New Zealand Govern ment would do well to consider seriously.