CABINET VACANCY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22427, 25 May 1936, Page 11

CABINET VACANCY

MB. THOMAS DESIGNS BUDGET INQUIRY SEQUEL PRIME MINISTER'S REGRET By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright ' (Received May 24, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, May 23 The Colonial Secretary, Mr. J. H. Thomas, has resigned from the Min- ' istry. * In a letter to the Prime Minister, ' Mr. Baldwin, dated Wednesday, Mr. < Thomas said:—"l understand the Budget tribunal to-day finished its 1 public sittings and will proceed im- ' mediately to consider its report. However, regardless of what its re- 1 port may contain, I feel it to be 1 my duty to resign. "You are aware that T offered to give 1 evidence immediately the tribunal was 1 appointed. My evidence is public property. Details of my private and personal transactions have been submitted to the tribunal. "I have decided to resign because < the way my name and private affairs 1 have been bandied about renders my 1 continuation as a Minister impossible. Not Able to Pull Full Weight "My only object in joining the National Government was because I felt that the coming together of all parties, regardless of differences, was the only chance the country had of pulling through a crisis; "To-day I hold that opinion even more firmly, but I feel myself, that instead of being a source of strength in the Cabinet, I shall merely be a drag on it. I would not be in a position to pull my full weight. "This is inconsistent with my desire to serve my country, which I hope my past public life justifies me in saying has always been my object. I ought, in fairness to all parties in the House of Commons, to emphasise that I feel no resentment at the demand for a full and impartial investigation regarding the Budget leakage in so much as the absolute integrity of the public life of the country was involved. Doctors Advise Sea Voyage "It is well known that I have no political differences with my colleagues or with the Government's policy. I am fully conscious of the grave and difficult problems which are changing almost hourly and which have to be faced by the Cabinet. "In coming to a decision which means so much to me, I can only wish you and my late colleagues God-speed in leading the nation out of the present difficulty." Mr. Baldwin replied: "My dear Jim. You have acted as I should have done in your place. I accept your resignation | with deep regret, which I know will be shared by my colleagues. The loyal sup- , port you have given through five strenuous years to the National Government will be always remembered by those who worked with you." ! The Daily Mail says Mr. Thomas' | doctors are advising him to take a sea voyage. At present he is staying with ' friends in Sussex. He has not decided yet whether to resign from Parliament. 5 According to the News Chronicle he will ' consult his leading supporters in Derby 1 before coming to a"decision.

Mr. J. H.-Thomas was born at Newport, Wales, in 1873, and at the age of nine began work as an errand boy. Later he joined the Great Western Railway as an engine cleaner and rose to be driver of an express. He has been, in turn, organiser, assistantsecretary, general secretary and president of the National Union of Railwaymen. He has been a member of Parliament for Derby since 1910. During the war his pro-Ally sympathies were marked, and in 1917 he accompanied Mr. Balfour on his official mission to the United States. On his return he was made a Privy Councillor. Mr. Thomas resolutely refused to take office in the War Cabinet and opposed conscription in all its stages, while he also, at considerable risk to himself, rebutted attacks upon Mr. Ramsay Mac Donald. In 1926, when he was a member of the General Council of the Trade Union Congress which called otf the General Strike, Mr. Thomas was roundly abused. But the things said of him then were as nothing to his lot when he followed Mr. Mac Donald into the National Government in August, 1931. After that date his principal work for some time was the handling of the controversy with the Irish Free State. Mr. Thomas is very popular in the House of Commons. He is a born negotiator and an excellent after-dinner speaker. He married at the age of 23, and in his early days lived in two rooms with a young family on 24s a week. His wife has been a constant encouragement to him in his work and his wisest counsellor. They are still "the best of chums." Mr. Thomas received the LL.D from Cambridge and the D.C.L. from Oxford.