The Honourable William Snodgrass MBE |
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15th Mayor of Nelson | |
In office 1917–1921 |
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Preceded by | Charles Harley |
Succeeded by | William Lock |
Personal details | |
Born |
William Wallace Snodgrass 1870 Liverpool, England |
Died |
missing from TSS Arahura, Cook Strait |
20 March 1939
Spouse(s) | Sarah Annie Frankham (m. 1897) |
Relations | Frank Snodgrass (son) |
William Wallace Snodgrass MBE (1870 – 20 March 1939) was an English-born politician from Nelson, New Zealand. He was Mayor of Nelson and later a member of the Legislative Council.
Snodgrass was born in Liverpool, England, the son of Robert Snodgrass. His early education was at Liverpool Methodist School. When he was 10 his family migrated to Nelson, New Zealand. On 27 January 1896 Snodgrass married Annie Frankham, the daughter of Walter Frankham, and they had five children — two sons and three daughters — including Wallace Frankham Snodgrass who played three matches for the All Blacks.
Snodgrass was a member of his father's merchant firm of R. Snodgrass and Sons in Nelson.
Snodgrass was a City Councillor for three years and elected Mayor from 1917 to 1921. William Lock and he contested the Mayoralty for a number of elections with Lock winning in 1921.
Snodgrass was appointed to the Legislative Council on 2 September 1921. At the end of his terms, he was reappointed in September 1928 and in September 1935. He remained a member until his disappearance in 1939.
Snodgrass was President of the Nelson Chamber of Commerce from 1913-1914. He was also a member of the Nelson Harbour Board, Patriotic Society, and War Funds Council.
In 1918 he was awarded the MBE for his patriotic work during World War I. In 1935, he was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal.
Snodgrass was a passenger on the Arahura sailing from Wellington to Nelson on 20 March 1939 and disappeared during the voyage. The account of the voyage stated that Snodgrass had supper with the master, Captain Hay, and retired to his cabin fairly early. When the other occupant of the cabin, Walter S. Dillon, went to bed Snodgrass was in his bunk reading, and they later said goodnight. In the morning Snodgrass was missing. His clothes and effects were in the cabin.