MR. J. H. THOMAS' FUTURE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23169, 15 October 1938, Page 23

MR. J. H. THOMAS' FUTURE

POSSIBLE RETURN TO LABOUR [from our own correspondent] LONDON, Sept. 15 It is indicated in the Sunday Dispatch that Mr. J. H. Thomas will shortly return to active political life. Mr. Thomas resigned under a cloud from the National Government oyer two years ago. Leakage of financial information was the cause. For more than two years Mr. Thomas has been living a secluded life at his home, Millbury House, at Ferring, near Worthing. Ten months ago he became the head of a transport firm. Now, after a seven-years-long "split" with Labour, resulting from his part in forming the lO.'Jl National Government, ho is to attend a function of the National Union of Railwaymen, of which be was a founder and for 10 years a former secretary. This " let bygones be bygones " gesture and its acceptance by Mr. Thomas, who was deprived of a pension of £SOO a year by the union at the time, is indicative of the mend in Mr. Thomas' relations with his ex-col-leagues. Important people in the Labour movement have been trying to get Mr. Thomas to return to politics for some time. They have pointed out that, his experience of five Governments would be invaluable to the Socialists in the event of a general election next year.