MR PHILIP SNOWDEN,M.P.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 50, 15 October 1914, Page 7

MR PHILIP SNOWDEN,M.P.

A CIVIC RECEPTION. At the Borough Council Chambers last night a civic reception was accorded to Mr Philip Snowdcn, member of the British House of Commons for Blackburn. The Mayor (Mr W. P. Kirkwood) presided, and Crs. Morison, Richards, Fredric, Thompson, King and Boon were also present. The Mayor said he had great pleasure in giving Mr and Mrs Snowden a hearty welcome to Stratford. At the present time, during the Titanic struggle on the Continent of Europe, into which Great, Britain had been unwillingly drawn, the ties which existed* between the Motherland knd New Zealand had been drawn tighter, and it was well that there should be visiting New Zealand a member of the British House of Commons, who could bear testimony on his return to the intense loyalty and patriotism existing in the country. The visitors would also be able to state that, as became a British community, all minor differences had been sunk. The general election was coming on, but after that he was sure the community would act in complete harmony. No doubt- both., Mr and Mrs Suowden would take notice of the country's advanced legislation, and he hoped they would learn something from it which would be 'or use in the old land. Stratford-on-Patea migiit not have the historical associations of Stratford-on-Avon, but all citizens of the New Zealand town hoped that they would have cause to be proud of their town's history when it was made. Mr Suowden said that no doubt the reception was accorded him because he happened to be a member of the British House of Commons—the Mother of Parliaments, who had given Parliaments to so many Dominions in various parts of the Empire; They were living in a time when adversity—if he might so term it—had brought all the children of the Empire close together. He was sure that they all had one desire—that the present conflict in Europe might be brought to a conclusion which would be honorable to Great Britain and would secure lasting peace to the nations of Europe. He specially appreciated a reception on behalf of the municipality, because previous to entering the House of Commons he had sat on a great variety of local government bodies. And those years of activity in municipal work had impressed on him the great, importance of the work of municipalities. Since going to the House of Commons he had often thought that he could have done better work by remaining on a local governing body. The central .Parliament had certain powers of making laws, but the besl laws would remain a dead letter but tor, the municipal body—the body with the executive power. Much as Parliament could do, the main problems of the general welfare remained with the local bodies. The men on local bodies could rest assured that their work was of the utmost importance to the welfare of the public. He had not been long in Stratford, but he could say that the town bad struck him as well planned and laid out. Tt might be that in years to come it would produce a man as famous as the one produced by Strat-ford-on-Avon. Mr Suowden concluded by expressing the best wishes of the future of the town.