“BUDGET” RESIGNATIONS

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 June 1936, Page 7

“BUDGET” RESIGNATIONS

PAINFUL SCENES IN COMMONS

MR. BALDWIN’S REGRET

[BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.]

RUGBY. June 11

The Commons debate on-the Budget Tribunal report was opened by the Prime Minister, who emphasised the difference between the judicial tribunal, which Parliament constituted for the purpose of inquiry into the Budget disclosures, and an ordinary court of law, since he said a grave injustice would be done to the two members affected by the report, if the distinction were overlooked, and they were regarded as having been found guilty of a criminal act.

It was his responsible, though distasteful task, as leader of the House, to move that the report of the Tribunal be accepted. He said that Mr. Thomas, whose long public career was well known, and whose loyal co-opera-tion in the Government of which the speaker 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 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 a perfect, right to do, that he was conscious of no offence, Mr. Thomas consulted his own dignity and the dignity of the House, and had taken a course which deserved and would receive the full sympathy of the House.

Sir A. Sinclair (Liberal) associated himself with the Prime Minister’s expression of thanks to Mr. Justice Porter and his colleagues on the judicial tribunal. Mr. Attlee (Labour) said that two members of the House had been found by the tribunal to have acted in a manner inconsistent with the positions they held in public life. It was a clear duty to vindicate the honour of the House. They were proud of the probity of public servants, and rightly exacted from them a very high standard, and they could not accept a lower one from members of the House, or those who held high positions in the Government; but they all deeply regretted that Mr. Thomas’s long and distinguished career should have had such an ending. Sir A. Sinclair agreed that the incidents disclosed in the Tribunal s report were deplorable, but happily they were of a kind rare in British public life. That that was so was not due to fortuitous circumstances, but the jealousy with which they guarded the probity of public life, and the quickness with which they acted whenever it was impugned. That attitude must be maintained, for it was the greatest and only safeguard against the chronic scandal's and festering corruption, from which other countries had found it difficult to purify their public life.

MR. THOMAS’S SPEECH.

‘NEVER GAVE SECRET AWAY.”

(Recd. June 12, 1 p.m.). LONDON, June 11. Crowds witnessed Mr. Thomas’s arrival at the Commons. Mr. Baldwin, answering Mr. 1 hurtle, attached no credence to the allegation that a rise in Newfoundland stocks, preceding the issue of the report of the Commission examining the island’s finances, indicated a leakage of official information. Mr. Thomas rose amid a tense silence. He said that no member ever addressed the House under such painful circumstances, and hoped that never again would a member be similarly placed. Referring to his resignation from the Ministery, he said that he felt sure the House would agree that he took the only course oren “I wished to make it clear to personal friends that I intended to accept the findings of the Tribunal, without challenge, whatever they might be, not because a judicial body is infallible, but because 1. believe there is no more impartial tribunal than a British judicial tribunal, and I felt that of this tribunal, however keenly 1 felt its report I am entitled to say, regardless of the report,, that I never consciously gave a Budget •jeret away. I repeat that, regardless of the tribunal’s findings. To attempt to deal with some of my puvate affairs would be as painful to me as it would be unfair to the House. My vices, if they are vices, have always been open, and never disguised, even from my own fam ilv. M Mr.. Thomas’s face became moie and more flushed, and his voice less steady, as he proceeded. I intend to resign from the House immediately I thank all parties lor then kindness, and often generosity, over a period of 27 years.. 1 can only hope that, during that long period have made some contribution to what to day is almost the only bulwaik oi democratic government in worlffi I would only sav that no wold of this debate can wound me moie thai [ feel wounded. Nothing can evei be said that can humiliate me more than I have been humiliated, hut at least I go to one who has shared all mv trials and troubles, and who still believes in me. in this darkest hour Mr' Thomas said that he had no strength left to fight a by-election. He spoke for six minutes, and ended almost in tears. cvni naHe sat down amid a lew sjmpa thetic cheers, then rose and waked dejectedly from the House, in dead silence. SIR A. BUTT’S DECISION. Sir Alfred Butt, his voice hardly audible, said that this was a most painful occasion on which to addiess the House. It was his last address in this Parliament. “I say emphatically that no member of the Cabinet has ever consciously or unconsciously disclosed to me any confidential information. When 1 heard the appalling decision of the Tribunal, conscious as I was of the grave injustice done me, I thought I should have the absolute right of trial in the Courts, where I should have had full notice of the charge against me, and where only properly-admissible evidence would be given. Then I heard that there would not be a prosecution and mv case would not be heard. I have been condemned, and apparently must suffer for the rest of my life, from findings against which no appeal is

J based, on evidence which apparently idoes not justify a trial. There is no method open to me by which I can bring the issue before a jury. With the greatest respect, 1 cannot conceive that the combined ingenuity of the Lord Chancellor, the Home Secretary, and the Attorney-General could not devise a method to firing the vital issue to the Court, but as they have not devised a method, how can I ask the House to acquit me? If any good had to come from this most miserable moment of my life, I hope that my position may be something to prevent anybody else being a subject to this humiliation. 1 feel, from the bottom of my heart, that I am a victim of grave injustice. I hope and pray that, some means will still be available to enable me to prove my integrity. I propose to apply immediately for the Chiltern Hundreds. Until to-day, I had no intention of resigning, but having regard to Mr Thomas’s action, I feel that it would be impossible for me to take up a different position.”

Sir Alfred Butt rose and left his seat. He bowed to the Speaker, as he left the House.

OPPOSITION COMMENTS

CITY CLEAR-UP NEEDED

LONDON, June .11.

Mr. Baldwin said: Sir Al Butt has also taken the proper course. Expiation in full has been made by both Members. They had left the House for the last time, and it was closed to them. The careless and unthinking cruelty of modern publicity has been theirs for weeks. They are paying th*e penalty in full. There is no appeal from the findings and whatever stigma there is from the report remains for all time. Let us hope with all our hearts, we will never participate in so painful a scene again. In conclusion, he said he would change the motion to read that the House accepted the report. Mr. Attlee indicated that he would not now move the Labour amendment. Mr. Attlee attacked the “corrupt influences emanating from gamblers in the city,” and said it was high time there was a clean-up in the city. A superstructure of mere gambling had been built up upon legitimate institutions. The Opposition urged an inquiry into it. Mr. Maxton said he had known Mr. Thomas for almost thirty years, and had been associated with him for many years in the work of the Labour Party. “At no time during that period did I or those associated with me. approve of his methods and general political conduct.” Nevertheless, they regretted his political career was to end in this way.

Mr. Gallacher said that Mr. Thomas talked about his vices, if they were vices, but the Government had encouraged him in them. They knew’ that the more he got into society, the more he was their man (laughter). Mr. Thomas did not suddenly develop corruption. He was brought into contact with captains of industry and politicians representing them. They patted him on the back. If Mr. Thomas was the artful dodger in the Labour movement, Mr. Ramsay MacDonald was the Fagin. Proceeding to criticise Sir D. Somervill’s (Attorney General) ruling, Mr. Gallacher said it created a suspicion that the reasons why there were no prosecutions 'were they were afraid other things might come out. Men had been hanged on less circumstantial evidence than was available in this. case. “I understand you are not prosecuting because it would expose and end the rule of the National Government, which was founded on corruption and betrayal of the people. A Conservative, Colonel Mason, here shouted: You dirty swine. Labour, members demanded a withdrawal. Colonel Mason rose aud said. i apologise for using such an unparliamentary word. The Labour members not being satisfied, Col. Mason rose again and formally withdrew' the expression. Sir D. Somerville said he was satisfied there was no evidence to justify proceedings for perjury against any witness at the Tribunal. As regards the Official Secrets Act, he was satisfied that evil intent was a necessary ingredient of an offence. CLOSE SEASON * Mr Neville Chamberlain said that gambling could not be stopped by legislation. He had suggested to Lloyds that a sort of close season from the end of the financial year March 31 until the Budget was announced In the Commons, during which time no Budget risk should be accepted. Lloyds had assented, thus what had happened would not happen again. Meantime, Lloyd’s had appealed to the underwriting agents not to accept insurance contingency risks without assuring themselves that the insured had legitimate interests to be covered. The House then divided on the amendment moved by Mr. Johnston, after Mr. Attlee’s statement that he personally was not moving an amendment, with the result that it was ieiected by 227 to 135 votes, after which the motion to accept the report was agreed to without a division. WORDING OF RESOLUTIONS LONDON, June 11. The Government’s motion, on which to-day’s debate will occur, has been altered to read: “That the Tribunals report be now considered and appiove%he “Daily Herald’s” political correspondent says: “This, obviously is tantamount to a vote ot censiue on Mr. Thomas.” It adds: The tion has been due to the Oppositions PG MI t GaUacher (Communist) tabled a resolution expressing the belief m the justice of the findings ot the Tnbunal, and affirming that Mr. Thomas and Sir A. Butt should no longer continue to be members oi the House, which further expresses the opinion that in view of the charactei ot the evidence nresented at the Tribunal, criminal proceedings should be instituted against Mr. Thomas. NOT THE END. (Received June 12, 2.15 p.m.) LONDON, June 11. If you ask me if this is the end of Jim Thomas, I answer definitely no, Mr Thomas told the Mail’s repiesentative, on arrival at Ferring. Mr Thomas added: I am in the unfortunate position where there is no right of appeal. I shall settle down here with my family. Letters of goodwill are coming daily from all parts of the country.

"By special ar'ancement Reuter’s wo-ld vfee In addition to other special sources or information Is used In the compilation of the overseas intelligence published In this issue and aU rlgfits therein tn Australia and Now Zealand are reserved.**

BY-ELECTIONS.

[RHITISH OFFICIAL WIBELESS] RUGBY, June 11. The resignations of Mr. Thomas and Sir Alfred Butt will necessitate by-elections in the Derby Division, for which Mr. Thomas has sat continuously since 1910, having been returned at the last two General Elections as a National Labour member; and in the Balham and Tooting Division, which returned Sir Alfred Butt as a Conservative member since 1922. CHILTERN HUNDREDS. In connection with the statement of Sir Alfred Butt, that he intends to apply for the Chiltern Hundreds, it mar be explained that this is the name of a district of the. Chiltern Hills, where offenders used to hide, to escape capture. 7 This gave pise to the appointment of a Crown official, who was called the steward of the Chiltern Hundreds. The duties b£ this office long since ceased to be of meaning, and, by a pleasant fiction, when a member of the House of Commons cannot resign his seat without disqualification by accepting a place of pfpfit under ' the Crown, he accepts the stewardship of thd Chiltern Hundreds, which is commonly held to constitute such a place, and this is tantamount to resignation.