MR. PHILIP SNOWDEN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 114, 16 May 1931, Page 7

MR. PHILIP SNOWDEN

POSSIBLE RETIREMENT SERIOUS STATE OF HEALTH PROLONGED REST ESSENTIAL [By Telegraph—Press Association—C •pyright] Received Alay 15. 10. 5 p.m. LONDON, May 15. There is a possibility that Mr Philip Snowden, Chancellor of the Exchequer, may have to retire from the Government for a time. His illness has taken iway the use of both legs, and a recent operation wound is also troubling him. His doctors insist that he must have a complete and prolonged rest from his official duties. All through his life the Rt. Hon. Philip Snowden has battled with immense odds, ami the stronger the forces against him the more he has thrived. This was again the case not long ago when Air Snowden was so prominently before the eyes of the world at The Hague, when he so ably represented Britain in th. discussions in regard to the payment of debts accumulatcj by the various countries engaged in the Great War. Mr Snowden was born in Cowling, a little village near Keighley, in 1864. His father, John Snowden, was a worsted weaver and a very active member of the Wesleyan Church in the village. Philip never worked i.i the mill, but he attended the Wesleyan Sunday School and was educated at the village board school. As a young man he was naturally ambitious, and he succeeded, after studying at home and joining classes, in passing into the Civil Service by open competition when twenty-two years old. He entered tjie Inland Revenue branch —excellent training in figures, for which be had shown quite an unusual enthusiasm. When he was twenty-nine he was injured in a cycling aeci'lent. the consequences of which altered the whole course of his career; and, in fact, led him straight to his goal of political propagandist, economist, and, finally, Chancellor of tiie Exchequer. What he read during the period of his sickness —something like twelve months before he was able to walk, and then only with the aid of two sticks—caused him to abandon the Liberalism of his birth and train for Socialism. He first tried to convert the Liberal Party, but failed, and in J 894 he joined the 1.L.P., of which he later became chairman. Air Snowden

first entered Parliament in 1906 for Blackburn, winning his way to the top of the poll as a result of his oratory. He retained his seat until 1918, when he was defeated, but was returned for Colne ValleV' in 1922, frhtrc he Ha’s remained ever since. He is a great orator. His speeches arc always well - prepared, and he always comes to his task well equipped. On the. occasion of -his first Budget speech in 19*24 he spoke for an hour and .fifty niiiqitos> waj* gx_hausted by his efforts, and had to be helped back to his seat. He has always held that most' fastidious* of audiences, the House of Commons, v the power of his oratory, always,*of - cotrr.4e, backed up by his knowledge of his subject. Air Snowden- was a-sick man-when he delivered his Budget speech in the Commons at few.days ago.