MUNGANA CASE

Hokitika Guardian, 22 July 1931, Page 5

MUNGANA CASE

£30,000 CLAIM. BY QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT. (Australian Tress Association.) BRISBANE, July 21. What has become known as “The Mungana Action,’’,begins in the Supreme Court to-morrow, before the Chief Justice, Air Justice Blair, and a jury of four. >, The case is exciting tremendous interest throughout the Commonwealth. The statement of claim consists of sixteen hundred words. The Queensland Government is suing lor the recovery of £30,000 from the Federal Treasurer, Hon. Edward Granville Theodore, Mr William McCormack (former Premier), Air Peter Louis Goddard, and Mr Frederick Reid. Briefly the claim is one for damages for alleged conspiracy, or,' alternatively, damages for that the defendants E. G. Theodore and Mr W. McCounack and F. Reid agreed to give P. L. Goddard “a certain benefit in consideration of Goddard, as agent for the King, recommending or procuring the purchase by the Government of Certain mines at Munanga known as the ‘Lady Jane’ and the ‘Girofla,’’ whereby the three defendants procured the purchase of thfe Said mines liy fraud.” The Crown also seeks l an adcolint aiid repayment- 1 of fill profits tnade by McCormack and Theodore arising oht : of such purchase as' “in breach of their duty as agents of the King,*’ or, alternatively, the State seeks - damages for the conversion.