Mostyn Hanger
Encyclopedia
Sir Mostyn Hanger KBE
(3 January 1908 – 11 August 1980) was a judge, Chief Justice of Queensland, and Administrator of Queensland
.
to parents Thomas Hanger and Myfanwy Granville-Jones. He was the second of five children. He was educated at Gympie
High School where his father was the headmaster. Hanger became captain of the school and later dux of the school in 1925. He won a scholarship to attend and study at the University of Queensland
where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts
in 1929.
. Later, he worked as a clerk in a joint stock company. He was called to the Queensland bar on 21 November 1930, although he did not practice as a barrister until 1932.
He married Greta Lumley Robertson at St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Brisbane
on 8 April 1936.
He obtained a Masters of Law in 1941 from the University of Queensland and began lecturing in company law at the university.
Hanger enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force
on 25 May 1942 and became a flight lieutenant. He served in Merauke in Netherlands New Guinea until 2 May 1945.
Hanger was appointed a Kings Counsel in 1950. He was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland on 23 July 1953. He was President of the Industrial Court of Queensland between 1962 and 1971. A decision in which he ruled against reemploying forty five men by Mount Isa Mines
Ltd led to an unsuccessful attempt to remove him from the Court. At the time, his wife held shares in the company. The decision led to a review in the Full Court of the Supreme Court. The Full Court held that Hanger did not need to disqualify himself from hearing the matter as his wife’s shareholding was separate, and that the shareholding was minor in relation to the number of shares issued in relation to the company.
In another notable case, Hanger ruled that “compulsory unionism” clauses in industrial awards could not be ordered by the State Industrial Commission.
He was appointed senior puisne judge in April 1970 to the Supreme Court. Later, he became Chief Justice of Queensland on 12 May 1971. In 1974 he heard the case of Lambert
v McIntyre. This case concerned the refusal of a motorist to blow into a breathalyser machine to test whether the motorist had driven after drinking alcohol. The motorist refused to blow and the magistrate which heard the case dismissed it as the motorist refused to blow rather than failing to blow. Hanger discussed the difference on "refusing" and "failing to". He said that "the two words have not the same meaning. One may fail to do something without refusing; one may refuse to do something in words and yet do it." The motorist was found guilty of failing to blow.
Hanger was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
(KBE) in 1973. He was also appointed deputy governor of Queensland. He was Administrator of Queensland between 9 March 1972 and 21 March 1972 and also between 20 March 1977 and 21 April 1977. He retired in July 1977 after being chief justice for seven years. He found that he spent less time in court hearing and deciding cases and more time on administration. He said that this "was work which was not to my liking and more and more I found that what had been a pleasure was becoming a chore".
He died on 11 August 1980 at the Brisbane suburb of St Lucia
.
Opera Australia
award the Sir Mostyn Hanger Opera Scholarship each year in honour of Hanger, and Sir Mostyn Hanger Chambers in Brisbane also bear his name.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(3 January 1908 – 11 August 1980) was a judge, Chief Justice of Queensland, and Administrator of Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
.
Early years
Hanger was born on 3 January 1908 at RockhamptonRockhampton, Queensland
Rockhampton is a city and local government area in Queensland, Australia. The city lies on the Fitzroy River, approximately from the river mouth, and some north of the state capital, Brisbane....
to parents Thomas Hanger and Myfanwy Granville-Jones. He was the second of five children. He was educated at Gympie
Gympie
Gympie may refer to:* Gympie, a city in Queensland, Australia** Gympie Airport** Electoral district of Gympie** Gympie Region, its local government authority* Gympie Gympie , a stinging plant...
High School where his father was the headmaster. Hanger became captain of the school and later dux of the school in 1925. He won a scholarship to attend and study at the University of Queensland
University of Queensland
The University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in state of Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the nation...
where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1929.
Professional life
After leaving University, he obtained as a clerk in the Supreme Court of QueenslandSupreme Court of Queensland
The Supreme Court of Queensland, which is based at the Law Courts Complex, is the superior court for the Australian State of Queensland and sits around the middle of the Australian court hierarchy...
. Later, he worked as a clerk in a joint stock company. He was called to the Queensland bar on 21 November 1930, although he did not practice as a barrister until 1932.
He married Greta Lumley Robertson at St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
on 8 April 1936.
He obtained a Masters of Law in 1941 from the University of Queensland and began lecturing in company law at the university.
Hanger enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
on 25 May 1942 and became a flight lieutenant. He served in Merauke in Netherlands New Guinea until 2 May 1945.
Hanger was appointed a Kings Counsel in 1950. He was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland on 23 July 1953. He was President of the Industrial Court of Queensland between 1962 and 1971. A decision in which he ruled against reemploying forty five men by Mount Isa Mines
Mount Isa Mines
The Mount Isa copper, lead, zinc and silver mines near Mount Isa, Queensland, Australia are part of the Xstrata mining company.-History:In 1923 the orebody containing lead, zinc and silver was discovered by the miner John Campbell Miles. The company Mount Isa Mines was founded 1924 but full scale...
Ltd led to an unsuccessful attempt to remove him from the Court. At the time, his wife held shares in the company. The decision led to a review in the Full Court of the Supreme Court. The Full Court held that Hanger did not need to disqualify himself from hearing the matter as his wife’s shareholding was separate, and that the shareholding was minor in relation to the number of shares issued in relation to the company.
In another notable case, Hanger ruled that “compulsory unionism” clauses in industrial awards could not be ordered by the State Industrial Commission.
He was appointed senior puisne judge in April 1970 to the Supreme Court. Later, he became Chief Justice of Queensland on 12 May 1971. In 1974 he heard the case of Lambert
v McIntyre. This case concerned the refusal of a motorist to blow into a breathalyser machine to test whether the motorist had driven after drinking alcohol. The motorist refused to blow and the magistrate which heard the case dismissed it as the motorist refused to blow rather than failing to blow. Hanger discussed the difference on "refusing" and "failing to". He said that "the two words have not the same meaning. One may fail to do something without refusing; one may refuse to do something in words and yet do it." The motorist was found guilty of failing to blow.
Hanger was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(KBE) in 1973. He was also appointed deputy governor of Queensland. He was Administrator of Queensland between 9 March 1972 and 21 March 1972 and also between 20 March 1977 and 21 April 1977. He retired in July 1977 after being chief justice for seven years. He found that he spent less time in court hearing and deciding cases and more time on administration. He said that this "was work which was not to my liking and more and more I found that what had been a pleasure was becoming a chore".
He died on 11 August 1980 at the Brisbane suburb of St Lucia
St Lucia, Queensland
St Lucia is an inner suburb of Brisbane, Australia located 4 km south-west of the Brisbane CBD. The suburb is bordered on three sides by the Brisbane River and is dominated by the main campus of the University of Queensland.-History:...
.
Opera Australia
Opera Australia
Opera Australia is the principal opera company in Australia. Based in Sydney, its performance season at the Sydney Opera House runs for approximately eight months of the year, with the remainder of its time spent in the The Arts Centre in Melbourne...
award the Sir Mostyn Hanger Opera Scholarship each year in honour of Hanger, and Sir Mostyn Hanger Chambers in Brisbane also bear his name.