EXPELLING A GUARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 August 1919, Page 4

EXPELLING A GUARD.

CASE BEFORE SUPREME COURT. By Telegraph.—Presa Association. Wellington, Aug. 27.' In the Supreme Court, before Mr. Justice Edwards to-day, Martin Joseph Let, railway guard, toek action against the Amalgamated Society ef Railway Servants for removing hiin from his position on the executive council of the society. Mr. O'Regan, in opening the case, stated that Lee was elected a member of the executive, and, an censequence of a letter he had addressed to the Palmerston North branch of the society, he was : afterwards removed from the executive. Ho had been elected by a majority of fellow members and removed by a smaller and less representative body. Lee would come up again for re-election, and probably would be re-elected, and if the executive persisted in its action the men he represented would be dif« enfranchised. The letter and subject of the trouble was alleged to contain insinuations against the chief executive officers of the society. The real question was whether the terms of the letter eon* stituted misconduct within the meaning of Rule 11, entitling members of the executive to expel Lee from his position. Mr. Myers, for the society, said the answer was that the letter sent by Lee tended to prejudice negotiations thin proceeding between the Executive Council, on behalf of all members of the rail* way service, and the Railway Department, and that the society's executive was justified in the course it took. The case is proceeding. Wellington, Last Night. In the Supreme Court case, Martin Lee against the Amalgamated Bociety of Railway Servants, Mr. Myers applied for a non-suit, but Sir Baasett Edwards said he could not grant one at that stage. The «ase was unquestionably a most important one.

Richard Hampton, president of the Society, in the course »f big evidence, •aid the executive was very sorry the position had arisen. At the same time It considered it could not do otherwise than remove Lee frera office, The Utter had a. bad effect with some branehe!), and .taiaed suspicien regarding and the general secretary. After hearing coun»e\ on the lig»t points,. Bis Henor reserved his deoljdoß.