LOST THEIR SEATS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 308, 29 December 1922, Page 5

LOST THEIR SEATS.

SYDNEY ALDERMEN. .SHIPPING STRIKE SEQUEL. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY. December ii. As the result of being held up by the shipping strike in 'New Zealand, two Sydney aldermen found on their return that their seats had Ixien lost. They were Alderman Archibald Davidson of Glebe, and Alderman Christieon of Yaueluse, and they lost their seats through failure to take the Oath of Allegiance and sign the Declaration of Office within the prescribed fourteen days. Both returned to Sydney by the UUmaroa, three deye too late to complete the formalities necessary following on their election. Alderman Davidson was on a business and pleasure trip to New Zealand, and it wah no fault of his that he did not transmit to the clerk the documents so vital to his assuming his eeat in the Glebe Council. He wee warned by cable of his peril. He •promptly appeared before 2 justice of the peace, signed (he Oath of Allegiance tn His Majesty, and made and subscribed tlii» Declaration that he would faithfully fulfil his duties of office to the best of hi* ability. This he transmitted by cable at considerable expense: but this method was not the one laid down in the Local Government Act. and it is held that; ttia neglect tr> transmit the Oath of Allegiance in the prescrrbad way shall he deemed a refusal to accent office, and to cause an extraordinary vacancy.