The Great Grab
JACK HAWKINS is
locked in battle with the Inland Revenue over .on his money settled
children.
There are two reasons which compèl a man who ought to be making Aims for our delight to squander his energies on complicated tegal struggle,
One is that English lunatic tax laws
else- allow everyone grandfathers, great-uneles,
THE CHINA MAIL, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1960.
PERCY HOSKINS
exposes
-on the second day of his inquiry-
the astonishing extent of the activities of...
THE MAN WHO COULD FIX YOU UP
MOST popular story at the time of the Honours
Scandal was that of the cautious chain store
acquaintances to make a tax-proprietor who, it was stated, had been offered a child's peerage by Maundy Gregory in exchange for a
cheque for £50,000.
free
0 covenant for education, but forbid a to do so.
father
The other is that in a year when Mr Hawkins earned £90,000 he might be expected to band
£75,772 over.
to Government,
For us all
the
Floyd Patterson, the Nerd boxer, is a very different sort of mun, but his problem is much the same. A boxer's career is brief. Patterson want to help his mother and his brother as well as bringing up his tarily, but when he wing a big purse the Government takes 92 cents in every dollar
A
^
The Big Grab pinches all man in the top surtax, bracket has to work 17 out of every 20
Government. days for he man at a modest professional or managertal level works two days In a five-day-week for the Government. Surtax still begins at a figure which is the equival ent of less than £14 a week in pre-war money.
The results of this penal level of taxation are far-reaching and bad.
"I
WITH A
PEERAGE
-FOR £50,000
"Give me 24 hours to think it over," said the store magnate. The next day he was reputed to have told Gregory:
to accept have decided your offer and here is my cheque signed X That is the title I have decided to adopt. So the day I receive the peer- age you choque."
can cash the Lowndes-square, 5. W., "....as an inducement fur endeavouring to procure the grant of a dignity or tile of honour for Lcut Commander Leake cutrary to the Honours Act."
This story 1 later confirmed to be true from one of his ass clates after John Maundy Gregory in fled the country.
Britain's titled Meanwhile, families sat buck-some in give trepidation for the revelations
tut
anticipation, others
to come.
Pressure
But pressure had obviously Gregory been brought to bear, withdrew a plea of not guilty and when the case came before the chief magistrate at Bow-street It was dealt with very hastily- almost abruptly.
Gregory It was alleged that on
unlawfully attempted to obtain
People become more interested in fringe benefits-motor-ears, expense accounts, company flats, han in a straight rise which they could invest or spend their families.
benella. or are
MAUNDY GREGORY
obviously
Q
second
had thoughts on the matter.
Bank accounts examined by Scotland Yard showed that in hod another casc Catgory honded back in throu instal- ments £30,000 for a pecrags he had been unable to procure.
Power
The bubble had burst, but un- answered was the question: Had Gregory ever been its a gosition to influence the Honours List?
All, my investigations showed
ten to the Palace,
There appears to have been a fixed tariff. Fifty thousand pounds for
stali tha
「" :,t
amage bend an
be, km; and
eventful career of raspre Limit
PERCY HOSKINS
Dow
THE BEST UNTOLD MURDER STORY
I KNOW
London Express derviço,.
elaborate facade at the Am- bassadors Club. But no cvid- ence of payment to individualy in office was ever forthcoming. ›
of
of
that for a period he certainly There was, however, the inci- did possess that power, though dent of a mysterious bundle ut times the demand exceeded Gregory's cheques, which figured the supply. Without doubt In a subsequent charge against
to those Gregory had access
employees: for demanding money by menaces, Civil Lord of the Admiralty dure should be imposed.
But the charge that a number of similar responsible for compiling the one of his
ministerial 3lats for submission that the complaints had been made, toast to the Prime Minister and from a "Mr X." ing the war. would be present, magistrate commented
The employee had threatened was of a most But the communder thought offence
mis the police. Over what period things over and decided to turn chievous character and it was did these complaints extend and
10 go to the newspapers with the cheques and the story stops be taken to : down, Maundy Gregory said doubly so because anyone who would any complaints in
how certain honours were pro- thin was very
offence under investigale these regrettable the committed
a cured. In cross-examination, Lieut. Comr.ander whole negotiations were almost this Act necessarily endeavour the public interest?
complete. Could not Comed to Induce some other person The Home Secretary, Sir John
'Superintendent' Askew of Scot Gilmour, said the answer to the peerage, with £35,000 for defence counsel elletted from Leake's story was that he mander Leake manage £2,000 to commit on this acust
Fortunately, on this occasion first part of the question was in a baronetcy, and if the land Yard the fact that several keep the pot
As regards the title seeker looked like cheques in the bundle had been unsuccessful the affirmative. was introduced to Gregory, on account, to
the attempt was who explained that some And
complaints bargaining for £10,000 drawn in favour of a dormer oving to the very Dcper at- remplader,
Commissioner of Pollee and an knighthood, Assistant. of the highest authorities picious. Leake
titude taken up by Commander extended over a period of about worth the
Commissioner Sof three years. They had already in the land were
desirous police, of his accepting some kind honour but "sinews of would be necessary to open certain élosed doors.'
bolling?
DOW
thoroughly went
sus-
10
Jailed
Mr Norman Birkett, K.C. (now Lord Birkett), appearing for Gregory. In the commander's case i
said I was the could be done for £10,000-or first prosecution of its kind and £12,000 would make it easier. so far as his client was congern- object of the Maundy Gregory said he had ed the aim and
had been fully arranged many such transactions prosecution suggested further established. at
Privy which
He submitted the proper end was that been a
a monetory penalty hod of Councilor, who
11 they cannot get such £10,000 from Lieut.-Comman- and he
Edward Whaney Leake, meeting self-employed, der
retired. R.N.. that D.S.O.. simply decide the extra work is not worth doing at the price.
they may
Jack
We love a new flm by Hawkins or another light from Floyd Patterson or the produc- tivity engendered by a top-flight executive. Incidentally, the Exchequer loses the extra
епис.
TC-
Work Is wasted, investment distorted, energies are diverted,
gance encouraged.
petty dishonesty and
Unfair
extrava-
It is obviously fair that
man earning £2,000 contribute
chequer than
should
earning a man
A
U.S. Naval base men
standing fast
in Cuba
New York.
We're here. We've been here 00 years. We're staying here.
Most of the naval officers stationed at Guantanamo find hard to bellave that Castro, would actually under- take а military operation against the glant installation.
They think tha: Castro's elles may take the form in-
WHEN Cuban Premier Fidel Castro made his stead of harassment and bot-
from Manhattan's Shelburne Hotel to
акс.
Wooknoss
The greatest
is Guantanamo
weakness
its water
more to the Ex- the Hotel Theresa in Harlem recently, brother £1,000. It is not obviously faRaul took his cue and promptly started making supply system, for the base hus that he should have to euntel- menacing noises once again in the direction of £2,000 income. And is ob the big U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay.
bule a bigger proportion of his
viously
unteir
that anyone
should be expected to pay is
id. in the -£.
Taxation touches us all. It is the traditional test of honest government. I suggest that this
is something about which the Tories should do a lot of heart- searching at this month's conference.
The Government's record after nine years in office is full of fair words on the subjeel. is about time we had some good deeds.
I
For the base still is the biggest American thorn pricking the pride of the Cubans, and the Castro government is feverishly looking for ways to get rid of it.
The Pentagon has not officially Frank W. Fenno, told a reporter declared just what Ks polley that he could not imagine
of would be if Castro made a stid- combination circumstances
that could force the U.S. den move against the Guan- tankimo installation. But high- abandon Guantanamo Bay." ranking officers stationed at the hase have been "leaking" word
'We stay'
to
of what the American posi- Another base officer declared tion may be.
For example:
Rear
--Anthony Lejeune commander,
GARA
VEHICLE TEŠTINU STATION)
955
grimly: "Castro can raise a lot he won't The bose of hell with us but
นส out. Admiral raise enough to klek
SLARBOROUGH
absolutely no fresh, water of its
own.
The 2,000,000 gallons
a day
which it uses must be pumped oma river four miles beyond Castro could cut off this water
the fonce that borders the base.
at a moment's notice.
Castro also could cut off the of 3,000 native labour supply Cubans who help in the opera- American tion of this largest bast in the Caribbetin.
And he could place anboteurs in the labour, torce. But base officers are already alert to this danger, and measures have been taken to screen out any poten- tial "h columnists.
-(London Express Service),
Leake
Mr
the
of
In his opinion the maximum been investigated by the police Gregory would throw up Follec. fine of £50 would be wholly and no sufficient evidence had his hands and exclaim:
No explanation, official Inadequate in itself ad been obtained to justify criminal "May I remind you, sir,
otherwise, of these Gregory would go to prison for proceedings.
cheques was over forth- Seymour Cocks: "Were that with an hereditary or two months and pay a fine of 50 and the cost of the prose
these..complaints from people. title you will be founding a
coming. They remained who paid money. sad did not dynasty." cution.
minor mystery in this or frum people
Credit has been given to both receive titles,
care of political who received titles and did not Heinsby MacDonald and Stanley bizarre my?"
Baldwin for checking the scan- backstairs intrigue. dal There is certainly evidence Meanwhile, Gregory had gone that the former Intervened In
punishment at to undergo s the matter during his period os Wormwood Scrubs completely many Prime Next
Minister and put unaware that he was soon to be rumours of civil actions to Gregory completely the involved in mother major and follow. One titled man financial rocks.
even more unpleasant sonsation. actually began proceedings for the return of £20,000 paid on the promise of converting his knighthood Certainly, a large proportion into a baronetcy. But he went in
So the case which everybody had expected to lay bare thousand political scereis was over in a few minutes. An The Home Secretary did not attempt was made to bring out reply. further details of the scandal Parliament, bul again officialdom clamped down.
in
יו
Complaints
Mr Scymour Cocks asked the Home Secretary whether his a tention had been drawn to the statements of the inspector in
came
En
Facade
But where did the money go?"
maintaining
the
Saturday
what
مله گران ایام الله شاه آب
MURDER SUSPECT
-{London Express Bersion).
A report on the people whose lives are closely linked with The Bomb. Today: What it is like at Aldermaston home of the H-bomb.
What LIVING WITH
does
THE BOMB
it feel like
to make
the thing
and began savaging the birchi. woods. The building of the explosives factory began.
by
TOM
POCOCK
"It goes without saying, we bli want nuclear weapons to bo abandoned," said a physicist, "but until the politicians ca Arrange world disarmament this is an unenviable responsibility for, which no scientist should shirk My parents were refugees, from Hitler and I feel I owe may k prosent work to my adopted country."
But for the Campaign Nuclear Disarmament, the discreet signposts to "A.W.RE" would have meant nothing to Itinerant motorists OF the Heading, Newbury and Basing- stoke roads. But now the great But, in practice, the question- paclist Easter rallies have of ethics seldom arises. become a feature of the English
spring and the feature of RESEARCH
Those who imagine the Aldermastons year.
Alomie Weapons Research "It's as good as a circus,” said Establishment as some horri- an administrative official_from fying Vulcan's Forge may bo behind the wire. "Mind, we surprised at the pence and respect those marchers, most of Silence that surrounds the four them are sincere. But it's really square miles within the triplo, a free show for us?** barbed-wire fence. But there
is something grim and brooding GROWN-UP! about the place.
So segregated are the different processes in the manufacture of nuclear weapons that a scientist could spend years at Aldermas- ton and never see the end pro- duet,
Much fundamental nuclear research goes on in the Labára- tories; there is an active piedical
The blank-walled towers that Has unilateral disarmament research unit there, and the house the "Van de Gracit and propaganda had any effect upon electronic computere are among
undisclosed number of the most elaborate in Europo tandem electrostatic generators," the
constantly "handle", non- slanding like castle keeps above thousands of workers who pour and
the trees. The miles of writhing through the gates each morning? milllery work.
MONSTER the iron pipes. The rows of grass- The answer, universally, is that sfuch of the work high-
at
on
Area.
“have.
grown up
speed photography or stru "We are
grown-up people," mentalion, perhaps is not said a droughtsman, "and we exclusively connected with The had. thought out the problem Bomb, and reached our conclusions
"Nuclear research of any kind Jong before the marchers arrived. We know the implica is of absorbing interest" vald tons of nuclear weapons Ave another scientist, "and here we years of more before explosives have the finest equipment in the
country.
production began hero."
Dccupying
Campus and The green mounds in the Danger It has not, Curse of the Undead. They were just the NO VISITORS names of horror films visitors ore
allowed not advertised in the hall of within the fences, and the thou
Bands who work behind the the apprentices hostel, wire rarely speak of their job but somehow, there to strangeraak
"Most of us have come frgas, Aldermaston, they But if you want to tour the Dven so, it is the Atomic seemed curiously apt. new town of 1,200 houses, the whargy Authority's polley to or going to other branches.
of nuclear work and shia mkon shops, churches and encourage relaxing and mind-
you feel remote from the 'binir The monster on this schools that
rocreations outside, aide of it." Where on the border of Berkahiro the wire fence. particular campus is, of and Hampshire, you are wel-Mountaineering is but one of In spite of this, there course, the hydrogen come
the muscular recreations, There many of Alderman on who wish bomb. Among the it is
het
ju pretty, toleremity is football, netball, archery and that their commualty was not wo theatrical, exclusively devoted to this one cheerful chatter of the country, Before it all began, ten howls. There are
years ago, Aldermaston's only photographie and archaeological Industry. Their with 1a, to be
granted. young' Belentists and distinction was that of having Eccleties,
During the next two year, engineers in their boon the site of the first English Although the subject is not
petrol filling stations
enoordged in conversation the brightly contemporary
* va young men and
women their gome 18,000 Londoners,
waiting to be re-settled There were Ufb strakpling vil- average age in under 30-wvill common rooms or tin- tages of Baughurst and Tadley, becasionally discuss the moral new satellite town will get rele kering with their sports some loay camp, and a derelict aspect of their work iw address it will be Aldat»
Symaston, cars in the unanthe, it that had once been there me it fe, Just Job park at Allientaston. 160. Was easy to forget them ol de buhatonu and which youğu anlar taxpayer, learn, to ly with Ahings down the road," " mxcavators came to the wachanda empley, mežz