BUDGET LEAKAGE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 107, 7 May 1936, Page 7

BUDGET LEAKAGE

INQUIRY NOT TO BE SECRET SCREENS AGAINST TRUTH [By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright] LONDON, May 5. The Hon. Sir Neville Chamberlain, in the House of Commons, referring to the Budget leakage, said the tribunal would only sit in secret if secrecy would be in the public interest. He was satisfied that there would be’ no withholding of evidence which the ■ public ought to hear. Major Atlee: The inquiry ought to have been by the House of Commons with the (Director of Public Prosecutions making all necessary inquiries. Mr. Buchanan; If there has been a leakage the person responsible was cither a highly-placed civil servant or a member oi: Cabinet. The Public Prosecutor should have been informed immediately. This was a matter on which the next general election might turn. Mr. tDcnman, 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 sceens between them and the truth. Sir John Simon, replying to Mr. Buchanan’s point about the election, said that according to conventions a Select Committee of the House of Commons would have a Government majority. The Government was of opinion the tribunal would be the best authorMr. Somerville, Attorney-General, said the House could rely on him that if it were necessary to call in the police authorities, they will be summoned. Air. Cocks: It is no good disguising the name, as it has been mentioned all over the town. Air. Cocks; I wish fo add that there is not the slightest evidence of any connection of the name or names, but the honour of the House is involved. TRIBUNAL OF INQUIRY. DECISION IN COMMONS. [ British Official Wireless. ] RUGBY, May 5. The Chancellor of the Exchequer moved a resolution in the House of Commons for the setting up of a tribunal of inquiry to investigate “whether and if so in whtwt circumstances, and by what persons any authorised disclosure was made of information relating to the Budget for the present year, or any use made of any such information for the purposes of private gain.” He 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 the tribunal of the kind proposed. The resolution was agreed to without division.