A. N. Day

Alfred Norwood Day (17 January 1868 – 27 January 1939), invariably referred to as A. N. Day, was a South Australian public servant and senior railways official who was dismissed on the eve of his retirement.

History
caricature by J. H. Chinner

Day was born the seventh son of George Fowler Day (1821–1901) and Eliza Day née Way (1830–1919), of Sydenham Villa, Norwood, South Australia. He was educated at Prince Alfred College and went to work in 1884 as a cadet in the office of the Hydraulic Engineer's Department. He transferred to the railways division of the Engineer-in-Chief's Department in 1891 as correspondence clerk to the Railways Commissioner. Three years later he became chief clerk,[1] and in 1896 he was appointed secretary to the Railways Commissioner. He was made a JP in 1905, additionally Director of the Tourist Bureau 1908.[2] A Public Service Commission found he was doing work beyond his pay scale and ordered an immediate increase from £80 to £100 and felt that was still inadequate.[3]

He succeeded James McGuire as General Traffic Manager in 1916. He was chairman of the Railways Supply and Tender Board from its inception and was chairman of the State Supply and Tender Board 1915–1929.

Dismissal

Day expected to retire at age 65 on 17 January 1933. He cleared his desk on 7 January and took some leave that was owed to him. On 11 January it was announced by Bill Denny, Minister for Railways, that Day had been sacked. A special audit had found irregularities in the books of the Refreshment Room for which Day was clearly implicated, but no, Day was not going to be charged with any offence. The amount had been small and had been repaid. The Railways Claims Agent, G. T. Powlesland (1882–1946)[lower-alpha 1] was also dismissed. Both lost their rights to superannuation.[5]

B. H. Gillman (1879–1945) was announced as his successor.

His fully clothed body was found floating in the sea at Taperoo, South Australia on the morning of 27 January 1939, six years later.[6] An inquest was not considered necessary.

Family

Day married May Elizabeth Spiller (c. 1871 – 23 November 1897) on 20 October 1896. He married again, to Constance Isabel Sandoz (died 1955) in 1909. They had one son and one daughter:

  • Alfred John Ashton "John" Day (12 August 1910 – 18 September 1984) served in WWII as navigator in RAF No. 57 Lancaster squadron. He was awarded a DFC for his part in the "Dambusters" raid on the Moehne and Eder dams.
  • Margaret Isabel Day (9 June 1913 – 4 October 1987)

Other interests

He was for several years vice-president of the Prince Alfred's Old Collegians' Association.

References
  1. Powlesland was a noted autograph collector[4]
  1. "The Civil Service". The Evening Journal (Adelaide). Vol. XXVI, no. 7344. South Australia. 2 May 1894. p. 4. Retrieved 30 December 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. "Tourist Bureau: A. N. Day Appointed Director". The Express and Telegraph. Vol. XLV, no. 13, 401. South Australia. 14 May 1908. p. 1 (4 o'clock). Retrieved 1 January 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. "Public Service Commission". The Evening Journal (Adelaide). Vol. XXII, no. 6072. South Australia. 22 February 1890. p. 5. Retrieved 30 December 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. "In Other Days". The News (Adelaide). Vol. XI, no. 1, 696. South Australia. 20 December 1928. p. 16. Retrieved 31 December 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. "Dismissed Railway Officers". The Advertiser (Adelaide). South Australia. 26 July 1933. p. 21. Retrieved 31 December 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. "A. N. Day Dead". The Chronicle (Adelaide). Vol. LXXXI, no. 4, 650. South Australia. 2 February 1939. p. 42. Retrieved 1 January 2021 – via Trove.
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