MR SHAW’S VISIT.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20274, 7 April 1934, Page 14

MR SHAW’S VISIT.

Civic Reception Arranged For Monday. MAYOR’S INTERVIEW. Arrangements have been made by the Mayor (Mr D. G. Sullivan. M.P.) to tender a civic reception to Mr Bernard Shaw in the City Council Chamber on Monday, at noon. Yesterday when Mr Sullivan was in Wellington and heard that Mr Shaw was to arrive in Christchurch to-day. he telegraphed to Mr Shaw asking him whether he wrould like a reception and whether it should be a public or a private one. This morning, on his arrival in Christchurch. Mr Sullivan received a reply as follows: “ Please settle nothing until my arrival this afternoon. Bernard Shaw.” Mr Sullivan decided to motor into the country to meet Mr Shaw on his way to the city. He met him a few miles beyond Waipara at 12.30. and travelled with him to Amberley, where they had lunch and spent two hours in each other’s company. In a telephone conversation from Amberley with a “ Star ” reporter this afternoon, Mr Sullivan said that Mr Shaw was not only a wronderful man but was wonderfully natural. " There is not the slightest bit of affectation about him.” he added, “ and he was as easy to talk with as a member of one’s own household. We chatted for a long time on the Labour and Socialist movement in Europe and I am perfectly satisfied that Mr Shaw has not changed his attitude towards Socialism. Fundamentally, he is a Fabian Socialist.

“The obvious thing that troubles him is the obstruction to progress that is met with within the Parliamentary system, but he wants to achieve his social ideals and has not changed in the slightest degree in that respect.”