BRITISH BUDGET

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19883, 12 May 1936, Page 7

BRITISH BUDGET

LEAKAGE OF SECRETS. t EVIDENCE BEFORE TR|BUNAL. i i .\TTORNEY-GENERAL'S STATEMENT: United Press Assn—Else. Tel. Copyright. (Received May 12, ii a.m.) LONDON, May 11. In his opening statement at the sit—ting oi‘ the Budget Leakage Tribunal. the Attorney—General mentioned that certain insurances were taken outagainst the Budget alterations by Sir Alfred Butt. theatrical manager and .\I.P. for Balham and Tooting. There was also business on April 15 on be—half of Mr Alfred Hates. an old friend or Mr J. H. Thomas, a member of the Cabindt. and the latter‘s son Leslie, who was a member of a stock-broking flrm. Both .\lr Bates and .\lr Leslie Thomas saw Mr J. H. Thomas on Good Friday or during Easter week. All three would say that no reference was then made to Budget probabilities and no disclosure on the subject was made by Mr J. H. Thomas. The trio were ready to assist the tribunal. Never Had Any Information. Leslie Thomas gave evidence that he saw his father and Bates at Ferring-on-Sea on Good Friday. Nothing was said about the Budget. He. had never at any time had any information from his father regarding possible changes. The Judge: Did it occur to you as unwise that the son of a member of the Cabinet should deal with Budget insurance?" Mr Thomas: Not at the time, but it has since. The Judge: \Vhen did you first disCUSS the matter of insurance with your father? Mr Thomas: lie phoned me on April 23, when I was in the country, be—cause it had come to his ears. He wanted me to return and tell him ex—actly what I had done. I took the night train. } \Vitness added that he had never done any income tax insurance Ibefore. ‘lt was not part of a stockbroker‘s in‘orm-a'l business, but he was anxious to render service to a client. Mr J. H. Thoma: to Give Evidence. Evidence was given by the deputychairman of Lloyds and a number of insurance brokers and stock-brokers.

It was announced that .\ll‘ J. 171‘ Thomas “11} give evidence later.