N.S.W. RAILWAYS

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 17 October 1925, Page 11

N.S.W. RAILWAYS

ECHO OF 1917 STRIKE.

AN OFFICER’S CLAIM. IMPORTANT TEST ACTIONS. ' BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. Received Oct. 17, 10.45 a.m. SYDNEY, Oct. 17. As an outcome of Mr. Lang’s ukase regarding raihvaymen who struck, in 19i7, an important test case, on which will depend a large number of others, has been commenced in the Eqqity Court. One of the degraded loyalist officers is seeking an injunction to restrain the Railway Commissioners from carrying out the Government’s orders in the matter. Counsel for the- defence raised the point that plaintiff had no grounds for relief against the Commissioners, who acted under Government direction. * Justice Hai-vey overruled him and declared that the deliberate policy of the Railway Act was that the Commissioners should use their own discretion, and the Act was meant to protect railway employees from political interference. It certainly was never intended that they should waive such discretion to the Government and Parliament, or in any other outside direction. Another test case at common law arising out of the same circumstances is pending against the Commissioners, in which a degraded loyalist is claming substantial damages.