OFFER OF £20,000 FOR BOOK BY J. H. THOMAS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 195, 15 May 1936, Page 11

OFFER OF £20,000 FOR BOOK BY J. H. THOMAS

Budget Inquiry Evidence FRIEND GIVES HOUSE IN PART PAYMENT By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, May 13. At the Budget leakage inquiry Sir Maurice Gwycr, First Parliamentary Counsel to the Treasury, said be did not know of the income tax increase till the morning of the Budget. There was no leakage in his department.' Alfred Bates, recalled, said that when he ramie the insurances against Budget alterations he did not possess information as to the Budget contents. He had been a friend oi' Mr. J H Thomas, Colonial Secretary, for more than 20 years, and played golf with him during Easter. Mr Thomas did uot disclose anything about the contents of the Budget. The only bust ness transaction with Mr. Thomas was an offer of £20,000 for the exclusive rights to Mr. Thomas’s autobiography. Mr. Thomas replied intimating that he had had othei offers of substantial sums, but he was influenced by Bates being prepared to make an instant advance on the autobiography. '‘lf you can get a house in your district m which my wife is keen and there is a clear understanding that it does not prevent me writing it, 1 will accept the terms,’ Mr. Thomas had said. Bates said that he purchased a house and wrote to Mr Thomas on April 6 stating that the purchase and the legal costs amounted to £15,100. A draft which he sent to Mr Thomas was signed on April 8. It read: “I hereby acknowledge that Alfred Bates paid out to me £15,100 in reduction of a sum payable to me for the rights to my autobiography." Replying to the judge, Bates said that he never assisted Mr. Thomas to place sums on the Turf. Mr. Thomas was to receive £20,000 for writing his life, plus half the profits beyond £2O 000, the profits to go to Mrs. Thomas if Mr. Thomas died. Bates said be had not yet received an instalment of the book, but believed it was in preparation. The Judge: Apparently Mr Thomas asked you to complete Cite purchase of the house for £15,000 on the security of the biography? Bates nodded assent. The Judge: Is not that a considerable risk? He may die before its completion Bates: His wife and family would supply the.data. The Judge: Do you think a biography of Mr. Thomas by his wife and family would make a protit of over £20,000? Bates: Considerably more. The inquiry was adjourned. Bates said that in making the insurances he hid his identity so as to get better rates, using in this connection his knowledge- of betting transactions. Five different names appeared in the policies.