INNOCENCE PROTESTED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 139, 13 June 1936, Page 9

INNOCENCE PROTESTED

Mr. Thomas Speaks in Commons THE BUDGET LEAKAGE TWO MEMBERS TO RESIGN LONDON, June 11. Crowds witnessed Mi. J. 11. Thomas’ anival at the House ci Luminous. Mr. Stanley Baldwin, answering Mr. Thrutle, attained uo credence lu lhe allegation tiiat toe rise in Newiounu Jana stocks pieceding the issue ui the report ui tue Commission examining the island’s finances indicated a leakage ol official information. Mr. Tliumas rose amid a lense silence. He said that no member had ever audrv&sed the House under such painful circumstances. He hoped that never again would a member oe similarly placed. jtveiemng to his resignation from the ministry, he said that ha felt sure that tne House would •fe-ve that he tooa tha omy course open. wished to maae it clear to my personal inenas mat I intended to accept the findings of the tribunal without caauenge, whatever they might be, not uucause a judicial body is infallible, but because 1 be.ieve tuat there is no more impartial tribunal than a British judicial tribunal, and 1 lelt that of this tribunal, however keenly I felt its report. 1 am entitled to say, regardless of the report, that 1 never consciously gave a Budget secret away. 1 repeat that, regardless oi tue tninmai s nnamgo.*’ • i<• attempt to deal with some ol my private affairs would be as painful tu . v <io uaiair. T o i*he House luy vices, if they arc vices, have u»ways been open, and ne'er disguised even from my c-wu family.’’ Mr. Thomas’ face became more and more flushed and his voice less steady as he proceeded: “1 intend to resign from the House imine liateiy. 1 thank all parlies for their kindness an-; often generosity, o'er a period of 21 . years. 1 can only hope Uat during that lung period 1 have made some contribution to what to-day is almost the only bulwark of democratic government in the world. 1 would only sav that no word of this debate can wound me more than 1 feel wounded. Nobbing can ever be said that can humiliate me more than 1 have been humiliated, but 1 at least go to one who has shared all my trials and troubles and who still believes in me in this darknest hour of my life.’’ Mr. Thomas said that ho had no strength left to light the by-election. Mr. Thomas spoke for six minutes and ended almost in tears. He sat down amid a few sympathetic cheers and then rose and walked dejectedly from the House in dead silence. Sir A. Butt Speaks. Sir Alfred Butt, his vc-ice hardly audible, said that this was a most painful occasion on which to address the House. It was his last address tu this Parliament. “1 say emphatically that no member of Cabinet has ever consciously or unconsciously disclosed to me any confidential information. When 1 heard t-he appalling decision of the tribunal, conscious as 1 was of the grave injustice done to me. 1 thougnt that 1 should have the absolute rigut of trim in the Courts, where L sbu-uid have had full notice of the charge against me and where only propeny admissibiv evidence would be given. Then 1 heard that there was not to be a prosecution, and my case was not to be heaid. 1 have been condemned and apparently must suffer for the rest of my life from findings, against which there is no appeal based on evidence, which apparently does not justify trial. There is no method open to me by which 1 can bring the issue pefore a jury. With the greatest respect, 1 cannot conceive that the comoined ingenuity of the Lord Chancellor, the Home Secretary and the Attorney-General could notdevise a method to bring the vital issue to Court, but, as tlhey have not devised a method, how can 1 ask the House to acquit me.’ If any good had tv conic from this most miserable moment in my lite, 1 Lope my position may be something to prevent anybody else bcWig subject to tais humiliation. I feel front the bottom of my heart that I am the victim of a grave injustice. 1 hope and pray that some means will still be available to enable me to prove my integrity. 1 propose to apply immediately for the Chiit»*rn Hundreds. “Until to-day L had no intention of resigning, but, having regard to Mr. Thomas’ action, 1 feel that it would be impossible for me to take up a dif fcrent position.” Sir A. Butt rose and left his seat, and bowed to the Speaker as he leithe House. NOT THE END MR. THOMAS INTERVIEWED LONDON, June 11. •‘lf you ask me it’ this is the end oi Jim Thomas I answer definitely no.” Mr Thomas told the Daily Mail’s representative on his arrival at Fersir.g. Mr Thomas added: “I an; in the unfortunate position where i have no right of appeal. I shall settle down here with my family.” Letters of goodwill are e »ming daily from all parts of the country. During the course of hi s speech In the House of Commons win n referring to the darkest hour of LU life Mr Thomas looked up to the Speaker’s Galpry where bis wife and daughter were Utting.