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Story: Disability and disability organisations

William Downie Stewart

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William Downie Stewart

While serving in the First World War, politician and lawyer William Downie Stewart suffered an attack of rheumatism, which eventually left him unable to walk. This disability did not stop him becoming a minister in William Massey's 1920s Reform government, or serving as finance minister under Gordon Coates and George Forbes. Here, he is being pushed in his wheelchair along a London street during a visit to meet financiers in 1932.

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Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: PAColl-7081-59

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Martin Sullivan, Disability and disability organisations – Care until the early 20th century, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/29372/william-downie-stewart (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Martin Sullivan, published 30 March 2011.