John v Rees

Subject Matter

MEETINGS — Chairman — Powers — Adjournment — Unincorporated political association — Attempt by chairman to put to vote resolution not on agenda, against wish of majority of those present — Resulting disturbances — Purported adjournment sine die by chairman — Officers elected and resolution to disaffiliate from national political party passed after purported adjournment and departure of chairman and others — Whether business transacted after purported adjournment valid — Whether motion to disaffiliate valid

[1970] Ch 345; [1969] 2 WLR 1294

NATURAL JUSTICE — Opportunity to meet charge — Political party — Rule empowering “disaffiliation of an organisation or expulsion of an individual” — Whether excluding application of principles of natural justice — Whether principles applicable to suspension — Suspension of activities of constituency association and powers of officers — Requirement of re-organisation of association — Leading dissident members required to give undertakings of loyalty — Notices of re-organisation meetings given only to members giving undertakings — Validity of meetings — Whether contrary to natural justice

[1970] Ch 345; [1969] 2 WLR 1294

PRACTICE — Parties — Representative acting — Individual member of unincorporated association claiming personally and on behalf of all save three of members of association — Motion to strike out whole writ, or the claim for relief in representative capacity — Affidavits by members not wishing to be represented by plaintiff — Whether writ should be struck out wholly or in part — RSC, Ord 15, r 12 (1) (3) (4) (5) (6)

[1970] Ch 345; [1969] 2 WLR 1294

PRESUMPTION — Legality — Rules of unincorporated association — National political party — Affiliated local party — Whether national party's rules adopted formally or by usage — Members joining no knowledge of national rules — Whether binding on members

[1970] Ch 345; [1969] 2 WLR 1294