FORESTERS' LITIGATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18040, 15 March 1922, Page 5

FORESTERS' LITIGATION.

DISPUTE REGARDING HALL:

A "CHANGE IN TFMPER."

Trie dispute in regard to the ownership of the Foresters' Hall, at Takapuna, which has arisen between the local court (Mr. Gould), and the district executive of the Order (Mr. Hogben), was again before Mr. Justice Herdman at the Supreme Court yesterday.

Mr. Gould asked that an injunction should be granted against the district'executive. The parties up till Friday last, he said, had failed to agree. On Friday he learned that the district executive had suspended Court Takapuna and laid a series of charges for trial before the tribunal of the Order with a view to the expulsion of Court Takapuna from the hall. There was no authority in the rules of the Order for that course. He took that action as incompatible with farther negotiations, and cancelled all offers of settlement. He now asked intervention by the Supreme Court, although the keys of the hall were given up to the local court that morning. Mr. Hogben, who deprecated the jrranting of en injunction, said that the temper of the district executive had changed. On Friday last they had the full facts before them with legal advice on these facts and considered the whole matter judicially. The result was that thej decided to hand over to Court Takapuna Lodge the keys of the building, and that had since been done. He had had to advise the district executive that the charges mado with a view to the suspension or expulsion of the court were ultra vires, and these charge* had been abandoned. The granting of an injunction might aggravate the position, as there was no reason for apprehending further interference.

The Judge Baid that in view of Mr. Hogben's representation it would be inadvisable to grant an injunction at this stage and he would adjourn the application. In the event of any further interference, pending the settlement of the question of title, the local court could again ask for protection.