Nationalisation Of English Railways Creates Law Poser

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 4, 6 October 1948, Page 4

Nationalisation Of English Railways Creates Law Poser

The question whether, now that the railways have been nationalised, a citizen could regard himself as part-owner thereof, and therefore incapable Of trespassing on his own property, 'was brought up i’ecently in a British Court of Law. The case has startled British Rail-, ways Headquarters. In the course of court proceedings in which British Railways took action, against a man who, it was claimed,'had trespassed on Railway property and refused to leave when ordered, the magistrate asked • defendant, “Is it your point that the railways are now public property, and citizens may now go on their own property?” “It is my submission that there is a profound difference as to the way in which the railways should be regarded, now that they have been nationalised,” replied defendant. “I can see there may be a great deal in what you say,” . said the magistrate, ordering a remand. A solicitor appearing for British Railways, was told by the magistrate that he would have to return prepared to argue the law on the entire subject of nationalisation.