The Wanganui Chronicle. MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1949 HE REGARDED PRINCIPLES VERY HIGHLY

Wanganui Chronicle, 3 October 1949, Page 4

The Wanganui Chronicle. MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1949 HE REGARDED PRINCIPLES VERY HIGHLY

|\JLW ZEALAND’S political and cultural life owes much to the personal sacrifice and devotion to duty of the late William Downie Stewart, whose death occurred last week. He served this country at a very difficult period in its history. After service in the First World War he joined the Massey Ministry, holding the portfolios of Internal Affairs, Industries and Commerce and Customs at various periods. In the Coates Ministry he was Minister of Finance, a portfolio he occupied later in the Coalition Ministry. It was in the depression years that Mr. Stewart left the Coalition Government, and his resignation emphasised how high a regard he placed on principle in the conduct of public affairs. He disagreed with his colleagues on the matter of pegging the exchange rate, and as Minister of Finance felt that he could not himself put into practice something which he considered to be opposed to the best interests of the country. His action deprived the Government of much of its strength at a time when strength was so badly needed, when outstanding leadership was so essential. On the face of things a hasty judgment would have ruled that he deserted the ship at the moment of its direst need. But Downie Stewart enhanced his prestige by his resignation, for the reason that he placed principles above party. It was his firm conviction that what the Government was doing was wrong, and as he would have had to put that policy into practice he would have been in a most invidious position—the chief executive of something he believed wrong. It is true that successful government under the democratic system is a matter of compromise opinions are expressed round the table for and against, and in the end the majority carry the day. But opinions and principles are two different things. A man can change his opinion and still uphold his principles, but to change one’s principles because the majority so order, is another matter. After a round table discussion new aspects of a problem are raised, and those new aspects can have a bearing on the pre-conceived opinions of those at the table. They can be convinced of the weakness of their own opinions and the strength of those of the others. In Downie Stewart’s case it. was a matter of principle —he did not believe in the intention to alter the exehangfe and would not be a party to working it into .the country’s economy. It was a big decision he had to make—his political career for the sake of a principle. Throughout time democracy has been indebted to men who have possessed his strength of character. In later years he devoted much of his time to literary work and had to contend with increasing infirmities. He possessed a sound knowledge of economics and was well fitted to impart advice and counsel in the realm of good government. New Zealand has been the richer because of Downie Stewart’s service in her cause.

GRAVE STATEMENTS

' I ‘HE man who led Britain in her “finest hour,” Winston Church--1 ill, has uttered grave warnings. It is the cruel irony of fate, or would it be better said that it is the grim harvest from political rivalries and elashings of ideologies, that the man who spoke of the nation as “this, their finest - hour,” should, within the space of a few short years, feel himself constrained to say that Britain had come to the verge of national and international bankruptcy?” It is a sorry picture, but true, and there is little use in trying to apportion blame. What must be done is to rectify what has come to be, and that rests almost entirely with the British people themselves. They already have the support and active help of the Commonwealth, and there is milch sympathy for the United Kingdom in the United States. But the problem is largely Britain’s, and she would meet the issue much better if she were free from party strife and party bitterness. It is so easy to attack, so hard to build up, and in her greatest hour of need Britain sank political differences. But that need was emphasised by the spectacular—it was a Dunkirk, not a bank housing dollars and figures “in the red.” Yet the outlook of Britain today, different in quality, is as great as it ever was after Dunkirk. It is such as to warrant examining the possibilities of a coalition government. If such a policy is repugnant, and it surely will be, in these days of such keen political rivalry, then it is all the more reason why an early election should be held. The people should be given a choice of government as soon as it is humanly possible. The trouble is, of course, that the holding of an election will find the country evenly divided. If such is the case it would be difficult to know what should be done. Whatever Government is in power will carry on in a knowledge that a great part of the electorate is opposed to it. The more the situation is looked at—the more Winston Churchill’s words are studied—the more forceful comes the conclusion that Britain today needs the strongest possible Government and that, there can be no room for party political bickering. The trouble is, of course, it is hard to eliminate political st ife, hard when two parties are so keenly opposed as to the right, way to govern. There appears to b" a. growing realisation that Socialism, costly in administration, and dangerous in its trend towards the extreme left, is not. the cure for man’s economic ills. It may have cured some of them, but not all, and it has created others. It is surely time for Britain to take stock of the position. T>e man who rallied the nation in her greatest hour of need has uttered the gravest of warnings. It will depend upon whether the nation recognises them as warnings and not as political outpourings. Few, surely, if they spare some little time to think, can got. away from the grim truth that the words are fatefully true. Will the British nation act in time to accept the warning, or will it leave the matter until the day when, looking back, it has only one thing left, to say: “Why didn’t, we pay heed when Churchill warned?” That self same nation has said that very same thing on one fateful occasion already. Surely it will be strong enough not to be placed in such a position again.

GUIDE WEEK

' | 'HIS is Guide Week and girls who are keen on team spirit, cooperation and, in the words of Lady Freyberg. a wide scope for personal and individual effort, should link up with the movement. It is one which teaches all that is sound and realistic in young womanhood. Guiding teaches a girl to discover herself in an atmosphere of happiness and good fellowship, to be able to accept the knocks of life cheerfully and to impart cheerfulness and a friendly helping hand where needed. The movement encourages individual talent and helps girls lo develop it. In fact it is a worthy means of enjoying life and at the same time learning the obligations and duties of citizenship, co-operation and selfreliance.