RECHABITES AT LAW

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22685, 24 March 1937, Page 15

RECHABITES AT LAW

COURT MAKES ORDER MOVING OF DISTRICT OFFICE In a reserved decision given by Mr. Justice Heed in the Supremo Court at Wellington the district officers of the Independent Order of Rcchabites were ordered to give effect to the instructions of tiie District Council to remove the office of the Order from Wellington to ChristehuVeh.

The plaintiff in the case was Alfred Martin, brass finisher, of Christchurcli, who sued on behalf of himself and all other members (except the defendants) of the Independent Order of Rcchabites. The defendants were all district officers of the societv.

His Honor said the officers, 011 the casting vote of the chairman, had refused to carry the instructions of the council into effect. He had 110 hesitation in making a declaratory order that it was competent for the district council by resolution to instruct the district officers to remove the society's office to Christchurcli and that the district officers were in law bound to obey that instruction.

"The plaintiff is entitled to the consequential order that 1 now make," added His Honor, "that is to say, that the defendants, tho district officers, give effect to those instructions and remove such office to Christchurcli. If it is found necessary to extend the order to embrace tho society itself, this will be done.

" As to costs, these must be borne by tliose of the district officers who have refused to carry out the instructions of the council, and have defended the action. They are Francis Edward Davis, Joseph Jobson, Matthew Jeffery, and Frederick Clark. I make no order for costs against the society itself."