PHILIP SNOWDEN

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 11, 14 January 1932, Page 10

PHILIP SNOWDEN

SEAT IN THE LORDS

SOCIALIST BOYCOTT

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, 26th November. Viscount Snowden of Ickornshaw, Lord Privy Seal, until recently Mr. Philip Snowden,- twice Chancellor of the Exchequer, yesterday took Jiis seat in the House of Lords wearing the traditional'scarlet robe with ermine trimmings. '

Surprise was occasioned by the absence of the Socialist peers. They were in the precincts of the House, but did not enter untij the ceremony was over. The Socialist M.P.'s also boycotted the ceremony, except Mr. Neil Maclean, Labour M.P. for Govan. No one could misread their unforgiving message, says the "Morning Post representative, and no one could fail to mark the punctual entry of Lord Porisonby, the Leader of the Opposition, heading, his petty little league of political-haters as soon as the ceremonial was over. It was a cheap, wretched bit of theatrical display, not in consonance with the ways of a great House. ; "What a chance'missed 1 : And how un-English and alien is a personal boycott from the spirit of our party politics!" is the exclamation of the1 "Daily Telegraph." ... : ;.-f•■. ■ ;-.-' In spite of this boycott, however, no man in. modern'days hasdrawn to the Upper House an assembly larger or more distinguished 'to observe his translation from" Commoner to' Peer. Conservative and Liberal Peers were present in strength. The public-gallery swarmed; on either side the Peeresses' Galleries were tenanted; atjthe Bar and at the steps of the Throne the Commons had arrived in force. ' • • '■■■ :\-':i : OATH OP ALLEGIANCE, i Presently (according, to the/"Morning Post" account of the ceremony) the imposing train appeared: Black Rod; .tha Garter King-of-Arms, in his quartered coat; the Lord Great: Chamberlain, carrying his staff jv Lord Lee of Fareham and Lord D'Abernon, the sponsors; and Philip Snowden,. in his ermine-barred rod robe. He' walked awkwardly, leaning hard^ at every step on the two crook-handled sticks which have helped him' so often towards the Treasury Box. His robe impeded him, the management of his Peer's cap, held in a. hand which also had to grasp a stick, was a difficulty. The gap between him and Lord D'Abernon,-next ahead in the procession, widened; his face flushed with the exertion of progress, but he undertook each yard with that dour, obstinate purpose that stamps the' man.

At the Woolsack Lord Snpwden. did not, present his Patent kneeling; : the Lord Chancellor (Lord Sankey) rose in greeting and took it from his hand. But first, like an old friend and colleague, he shook the outstretched hand. The slow group moved on to the Table of the House, and the Clerk, stripping the Summons of its ribbon; read the immemorial rolling phrases which advance and prefer '' our right trusty and wellbeloved co"usin and counsellor, Philip Snowden," to the rank of Viscount.

Tho new member of the' House of Lords repeated the oath of allegiance, then laid aside his sticks and signed the Roll. Resolutely he made the round of. the Chamber—-of which the- ancient purpose is that every Peer/shall identify the latest of. his fellowships—and-coming opposite the Bar and-the public; Gallery, glanced up and; faintly, smiled, The humble Excise Officer ,:of ; other days seemed to experience/a-twinge of amusement that all this gqbdiy.cqiilpany should be here to see him; • •■; :/j/ '■■ J.: *■'■.:

Mr. Snowden was spared the troublesome traverse of seats to the proper bench from which a Viscount makes his throe introductory bows.: Instead he took a station on the front row; and it was not thought requisite that he should undergo the rising and sitting between each obeisance that, is the ■ custom. Again the red-robed, halting figure passed up the House, pausing at the Woolsack to shake hands with /the Lord Chancellor afresh, and then departed from view into the Princes' Gallery. Lord Snowden disappeared, confirmed in title and honours of a Viscounty; and onco more the improbable stood accomplished. Lord Snowden walked slowly, but bore himself very well throughout. He showed no signs of fatigue. EXCHANGE OF SMILES. On his way out of the House he exchanged smiles with Lord Brentford, with whom, when he was s'Jix," Lord Snowden.-had often crossed swords in the Commons. The Lobby Correspondent ~ofV the "News-Chronicle" writes: '.'When I asked one or two of the Labour Peers why they were not present at the ceremony—most of them were in tho precincts —they replied that they had 'other engagements.' They sniiled and said they could add nothing r to that statement."