William Downie Stewart, Jr.

The Honourable William Downie Stewart, Jr.
24th Minister of Finance
In office 24 May 1926 – 10 December 1928
Prime Minister	Gordon Coates
Preceded by	William Nosworthy
Succeeded by	Joseph Ward
In office 22 September 1931 – 28 January 1933
Prime Minister	George Forbes
Preceded by	George Forbes
Succeeded by	Gordon Coates
Personal details
Born	29 July 1878 Dunedin New Zealand
Died	29 September 1949 Dunedin New Zealand
Nationality	New Zealand
Political party	Reform

William Downie Stewart (29 July 1878 – 29 September 1949) was a New Zealand Finance Minister, Mayor of Dunedin and writer.

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. His sister was Rachelina (Rachel) Hepburn Armitage.

Downie Stewart was the author of a number of books. 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."

Downie Stewart was Mayor of Dunedin (1913–1914). He represented the Dunedin West electorate from 1914 to 1935. His father had previously represented the Dunedin West electorate.

In 1935, he was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal.

Downie Stewart was Finance Minister in 1931–1933. He resigned after the devaluation of the New Zealand currency, a measure he opposed. Downie Stewart stood in the 1935 general election as an Independent United-Reform Coalition candidate, losing to Labour's Dr Gervan McMillan.

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