Mostyn Hanger

Sir (John) Mostyn Hanger (3 January 190811 August 1980) was a judge in Queensland, Australia. He was Chief Justice of Queensland and Administrator of Queensland (deputy for the Governor of Queensland).

Early years Hanger was born on 3 January 1908 at Rockhampton to parents Thomas Hanger and Myfanwy Granville-Jones. He was the second of five children, including the playwright Eunice Hanger. He was educated at Gympie State 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. He was also appointed deputy governor of Queensland for a time in 1973.

He died on 11 August 1980 at the Brisbane suburb of St Lucia. 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 by the company. 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.

In another notable case, Hanger ruled that "compulsory unionism" clauses in industrial awards could not be ordered by the State Industrial Commission.

Honours

Hanger was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in 1973.

Opera Australia award the Sir Mostyn Hanger Opera Scholarship each year in honour of Hanger, and Sir Mostyn Hanger Chambers in Southport also bear his name.