Tribunal of inquiry

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 121, 6 May 1936, Page 7

Tribunal of inquiry

BUDGET LEAKAGE House of Commons Passes Resolution MEMBERS’ VIEWS (British Official Wirelaaa.l (Received 6, 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY, May 5. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, moved a resolution in the House of Commons for the setting-up of a tribunal of Inquiry to investigate “whether and, if so, in what circumstances and by what persons any unauthorised disclosure was made of information relating to tie Budget for the present year or any use made of any such information for purposes of private gain.” Ho said that it did not appear to the Government that any tribunal could be found more thoroughly impartial in character and more fully clothed in power to obtain all the information available than a tribunal of tho kind proposed. Mr. Chamberlain said that the tribunal would only sit in secret if secrecy were in the public interest. He was satisfied that there would be no withholding of evidence which the public ought to hear. Major Attlee; The inquiry ought to have been been by tho House of Commons with the Director of Public Prosecutions making all the necessary inquiries. Mr. Buchanan; If there has been a leakage the person responsible was either a highly-placed civil servant or a member of Cabinet. Tho Public Prosecutor should have been informed immediately. This is a matter on whirl tho next general election might turn.. The Hon B. Denman, as senior member of Lloyds in the House of Commons, said that Lloyds would give every assistance. The difficulty would begin after that assistance when they were up against a screen or series of screens between them and the truth. Sir John Simon, replying to Mr. Buchanan’s point about the election, said that according to the conventions a select committee of the House of Commons would have a Government majority. The Government was of the opinion that a tribunal was the best authority. Sir D. B. Somerville, AttorneyGeneral, said that the House could rely on him that if it were necessary to jsall in the police authorities they would be summoned. Mr. Cocks: It is no good disguising the name that has been mentioned all over town. The Speaker said that it was Improper to suggest anything of tho kind. Mr. Cocks: I wish to add that there is not the slightest evidence in connection with a name or names, but the honour of the House is involved. Tho resolution was agreed to without a division.