ALLEGED WRONGFUL DISMISSAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10253, 1 June 1911, Page 5

ALLEGED WRONGFUL DISMISSAL.

CLAIM AGAINST THE CROWN.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, Last Night. An action against the Grown by

Arthur Broad Reynolds, Jate landing

waiter for the Customs Deportment at Auckland, for £3OOO damages for alleged wrongful dismissal, wa.s commenced this afternoon, before His Honour Mir Justice Sim, and a. Common Jury of twelve. The case came before the Court as a petition under the Crown Suits Act. Mr R. B. Williams, with Mr G. H.

Fell, appeared for Reynolds, and Mr' J. W. Salmond (Solicitor-Gener-al), with him Mr A. W. Blair, for the Crown.

Petitioner, in his statement of claim, set forth that he had been in the public service some twenty-six years, and that at the time of his dismissal on Decemiber 14th, 1909, he

was in .receipt of a salary of £3OO per year. Un June Ist, owing to ill-health, lie went to Auckland (allegedly without leave) under medical advice, and; on June 16th he was suspended, and a letter was sent to liim from the Collector of Customs at Wellington, charging him with ■being absent from duty without leave, with insobriety, and with dis-

obedience of orders. The board of inquiry, consisting of Messrs J. A. Hutton and W. Bowles, reported on his leave in July, and as a result of their report petitioner was disaßissed from the public service on December 14th. Petitioner urged that- the sitifc-

ling of the board was illegal, and was not consonant 'wath natural justice. In consequence of his dismissal Ms health had suffered, and he had also lost his claim to compensation. < For the defence, it was denied that the inquiry was, void, hut on the contrary was a proper inquiry. It was also contended that petitioner was guilty of the charges made against him, and was therefore rightfully dismissed frnm the service. As petitioner complained till at he had not had sufficient inquiry, the Government offered .him a new inquiry, 'wthiich was l-efused. The case had not concluded when the Court rose for the dav.