TO RESIGN SEAT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 205, 12 June 1936, Page 5

TO RESIGN SEAT

MR J. H. THOMAS’S DECISION. LAST SPEECHIJN THE COMMONS. BRIEF, PATHETIG UTTERANGE. SILENTLY SYMPATHETIC HOUSE. (United Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 10.45 a.m.) LONDON, June 11. Crowds witnessed the arrival of Mr} J', H. Thomas at the House of Com—l mons, to give the statement of his position regarding the leakage of information concerning the Budget. , 1n the House, Mr Thomas rose amid tense ‘ silence. Mr Thomas said that no member had ever addressed the House under such painful circumstances, and he hoped that neVer again ivould a member be similarly placed. Referring to his resignation from the Ministry, Mr Thomas said he felt sure the House would agree that he took the only course open to him. . “I wish to make‘it clear to my personal friends that I intended to accept the findings of the tri—‘bunal Without challenge, whatever they might be, not because . a judicial body is infallible, but because I believe there is no moreimpartial tribunal than a British judicial tribunal, and I felt that 'of this tribunal, however keenliy I felt its report. I am entitled to say, regardless of the report, that ‘ I never consciously. gave a Budget \ secret away. I repeat that regard— l ‘ less of the tribunal’s findings. To l attempt to deal with some of my private affairs would be as pain—ful to me as it would be unfair to the House. My; vices—if they are vices—have always been open and never disguised, even fl‘Oln my own family.” Mr Thomas’s face became more and more flushed and his voice less steady as he “proceeded. “I intend to resign from the House immediately. I thank all parties for their kindness and often generosity over a period of 27 years. I can only hope that during that long period 1 have made some contribution _to what to-day is almost the only bulwark of democratic gorernment in the World. I would only say that no word of this debate can wound me more than I feel wounded. Nothing can ever be said that can humiliate me more than I"'h'zive been'humiliated; but 1 at least go to one who shared all my trials and troubles and who still believes in me in this, the darkest hour of my life.” Mr Thomas here looked up to the ‘Speaker’s gallery, where his wife and daughter were sitting. _ Mr Thomas said; he had no strength left to fight a by—election, Mr. Thomas spoke for six minutes and ended almost in tears. He sat down amid a few sympathetic cheers. Then he rose and walked dejectedly from the House, in dead silence.

LONG PUBLIC CAREER. TRIBUTE BY THE PREMIER. DIGNITY OF HOUSE PRESERVED. (Received) This Day, 11.50 a.m.) aLONDON, June 11. The debate on the Budget Tribunal] was opened in the House of Commons by the Prime Minister (Mr Stanley Baldwin), who emphasised the differ—ence between a judicial tribunal and an ordinary court of law. It was his :resPonsible, though distasteful, task as leader of the House, to move that the report of the tribunal be accepted.‘ The Prime Minister said] that Mrl Thomas—whose long .public career was‘ well known, and Whose loyal co-opera-tion in the Government of which he (Mr Baldwin) was now head {he gratefully acknowledged - had recognised that the House was bound to accept the findings of the tribunal, regarding which Mr Baldwin declared they r all acknowledged the sense of duty under which it undertook its task and the promptness and thoroughness with which it discharged it. In resigning from Parliament, while maintaining—— as he had the perfect right to (lo—that he was conscious of no offence, Mr Thomas had consulted his own dignity and the dignity of the house and had taken the course which deserved, and Would receive, the full sympathy of the House. Major C. R. Attlee (Leader of the Opposition) and Sir Archibald Sinclair (Liberal) associated themselves with the Prime B'linister’s remarks.

A COMMUNIST MOTION. (Received This Day, 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 11. A Communist, Mr \V. Gallacher (\Vest Fife) tabled in the House of Commons a resolution expressing belief in the justice of the findings of the tribunal that investigated the Budget leakages, and affirming that Mr Thomas and Sir Alfred Butt should no longer continue to be members of the House, which further expresses the opinion that in View of the character of the evidence presented at the tribunal criminal proceedings should be instituted against Mr Thomas. ' Mr Thomas announced his immediate resignation of the Derby seat.