Writs Against Papuan
p. 73 · Read in the full issue
Government
AN interesting case was heard re cently in the Central Court of Papua, when Mr. B. W. Faithom, of the Magisterial Service, took action against the Territory of Papua. The case was extremely complicated, involving fine points of law.
Briefly, Mr. Faithom was reduced from Assistant Resident Magistrate to Patrol Office, after having been before the Executive Council on charges of im prisoning a native without trial and striking natives with his hand and with a stick. Mr. Faithom issued a writ claiming that the Council had no power to reduce an officer to a lower rank.
Thereupon the Commonwealth Govern ment terminated Mr. Faithom’s appoint ment as an officer of the Magisterial Service, and the following day appointed him to be a Patrol Officer.
A further writ was issued by Mr.
Faithom which resolved itself into a question of costs —if the original de ranking order was illegal then he was entitled to costs. Mr. Justice Gore held that the order was legal and judgment was given for the Territory of Papua, with costs.
Rev. A. J. Thompson, rector of Sam arai, Papua, has been appointed an Archdeacon.
Mr. C. C. Barry, of the C.S.R. Co., at Labasa, Fiji, returned to the Colony by the June “Niagara” after three months’ furlough in Sydney.