ELECTED FOUR TIMES AGAINST HIS WISH

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVI, Issue XLVI, 23 June 1911, Page 4

ELECTED FOUR TIMES AGAINST HIS WISH

A Gilbertian situation on the Sunderland • Town- ■ 'Council recently claimed.the.attention of the Lord Chief Justice and Justices Bray andBankes, sibthig as a King's Bench Divisional Court. A'Mr Crawford was elected to the Council, and was nominated to takcthe place of. his predecessor in office on the Education Committee. Mr Crawford, however, declined to accept the honour, and a Mr Lawson, another Councillor, agreed to take his place. The Mayor, refused to accept any other nomination than that of Mr Ci-awford, andthat gentleman wis elected to the office. He resigned, and although he declared , .that he would not serve on >any account, he. was elected on three other occasions, and each time promptly re., signed The upshot was that the? 'Court 'was asked, at rnc instance of the Crown, to grant a rule nisi, calling upon-tho 'Council to elect a "proper person" as a. .member of the committee. * :

The Lord Chief Justice: K niy brother Bnnkos were appointed a churclrwarden, could he bo indicted or fined if he refused to act?' ■Mr Dan converts: He could be 'indieted and brought Ijefore an Ecclesiastical Court. He would, -without doubt, be laid by the heels. (Laugh, ■tor). The Court hold that a eomniittoeiiimn was not bound to act on the committee allotted to him. Overseers, churchwardens, members of Parliament, etc.. were elected by statute or resolution to do spoci.fic work, and could be 'indicted if they refused to act. but he thought a committeeman did not come within -the pa me category. The rule- was accordingly made absolute, the council' beinjr ordered to elect a member of the committee.