BUDGET SECRETS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22905, 12 June 1936, Page 9

BUDGET SECRETS

THE RECENT DISCLOSURES NO CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, June 10. The Attorney-general (Sir Thomas Inskip) has announced that he is not instituting criminal proceedings in respect to the Budget leakages. The law, he said, required unauthorised communications to be deliberate. If there was any doubt whether the disclosure was deliberate or inadvertent the accused was entitled to acquittal. Moreover, the fundamental principle of criminal law was that a jury should act only on evidence presented at a trial. It would be impossible to obtain a jury not familiar with the findings of the tribunal and much of the evidence which the tribunal had considered. It would be foreign to British methods if information resulting from the exercise of wide powers of compulsory interrogation 6uch as the tribunal had should be made the basis of a subsequent criminal charge. Mr Baldwin indicated that Mr Thomas and Sir Alfred Butt would make a statement to-morrow.

The Evening News understands that Mr Thomas met Mr Aiton (chairman of the Derby Conservatives) and intimated that he intended to resign. Mr Aiton advised him against such a step.

Mr Thomas is believed to have discussed, the statement he intends to make in the House of Commons to-mor-row with friends. It will be brief, and will reaffirm that he did not disclose Budget secrets and that his conscience is clear.

DEBATE ON THE FINDING (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, June 10. At question time, after the Attorneygeneral had announced in the House of Commons that there would be no prosecutions in connection vith the Budget leakage, the Prime Minister announced that the Government would table a formal motion for to-morrow that the tribunal's report "be now considered," which would not prejudice the course of the discussion.

Opposition members, in supplementary questions, suggested that the Government and the Prime Minister, as Leader of the House, in particular had the responsibility to make recommendations arising out of the report, but Mr Baldwin refused to anticipate the course of the debate. •He informed the House that Mr Thomas and Sir Alfred Butt had expressed their intention of being in their places to make personal statements at the end of the questions tomorrow.

The statements are expected to be brief, and the two members will then withdraw from the House.

A LABOUR AMENDMENT LONDON. June 10. In the House of Commons Labour members will move an addendum to the Government's motion—" That, in view of the definite findings of the tribunal and the disclosures of gambling practices in the City of London, this House calls on the Government to take appropriate action."

The Derby Election Committee passed a resolution urging Mr Thomas to continue his representation, and adding: " It desires to express to Mr Thomas its full and complete confidence. This committee is mindful of his. 20 years of devoted service to Derby and assures him of its continued and loyal support." \ SEVERAL REPRIMANDS LONDON, June 10. It is understood that Lloyd's Committee has strongly reprimanded several participants in the Budget insurances. No further action is proposed.

THE GOVERNMENT'S MOTION

LONDON. June 11. (Received June 11, at 11.15 p.m.)

The Government's motion ou which today's debate will occur has been altered to read —"That the tribunal's report be now considered and approved." The Daily Herald's political correspondent says this is obviously tantamount to a vote of censure on Mr Thomas, but adds that the alteration is due to the Opposition's persistence.