SEQUEL TO BUDGET LEAKAGES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLI, Issue 20442, 12 June 1936, Page 9

SEQUEL TO BUDGET LEAKAGES

DECISION OF ATTORNEY GENERAL DERBY’S CONFIDENCE IN MR THOMAS United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received June 11, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, June 10. The Derby election committee passed a resolution urging Mr J. H. Thomas to continue his representation as follows: “Desiring to express to Mr Thomas full and complete confidence, the Committee, mindful of his 26 years of devoted service to Derby, assures him of its continued loyal support.” . The “Evening News” understands that Mr Thomas met Mr Alton, chairman of the Derby Conservatives, and intimated that he intended to resign. Mr Alton advised against such a step. Mr Thomas is believed to have discussed the statement he intends to make in the House to-morrow with friends. It will be brief, and will reaffirm that he did not disclose Budget secrets, and that his conscience is clear. DECISION OF ATTORNEYGENERAL NO PROSECUTION INTENDED United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, June 10. The Attorney-General (Sir Donald Somerville) announced in the House of Commons that he is not instituting criminal proceedings with respect to the Budget leakages. He explained that the law required unauthorised communications to be deliberate. If there was any doubt whether the disclosure was deliberate or inadvertent, the accused was entitled tn acquittal. Moreover, the fundamental principle of criminal law is that a jury should act only on the evidence presented at the trial. It would be impossible to obtain a jury not famuiar 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 the wide powers of compulsory interrogation, such 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 statements to-morrow. Personal Statement Promised. After the Attorney-Gener: I had said there would be no prosecution in connection with 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 by Opposition members. Supplementary questions suggested that the Government and Prime Minister, as leader of the House, in particular, had a 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 questions tomorrow.

The statements are expected to be brief, and the two members will then withdraw from the House. TERMS OF RESOLUTION LABOUR SUGGESTS ADDENDUM United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received June 11, 9.35 p.m.) LONDON, June 11. The Government’s motion, on which to-day’s debate will occur, has been altered to read: “That the Tribunal's report be now considered and approved.” Labour members will move an addendum to the Government 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.” Vote of Censure? The political correspondent of “The Daily Herald” 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.”