MAYOR AND COUNCILLOR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18553, 10 November 1923, Page 12

MAYOR AND COUNCILLOR.

MEMBER'S SEAT VACANT. SEQUEL TO COURT CASE. TbT XELECP.APB.—OWN CtraRESPOXDENT.'] HASTINGS. Friday. f . A few weeks ago the serenity of a meeting of the Hastings Borough Council was ruffled by an unusual incident resulting from a dispute, between the Mayor and Mr. L. W. Fowler, a member of the council. The latter had made a state- ■ ment which the Mayor took as a reflection upon him, and the councillor remaining obdurate to r opeated requests to withdraw, the Mayor sent for a policeman in whose company Mr. Fowler quitted the j ' meeting. ' Mr. Fowler's seat has now been declared vacant, as the sequel to another incident in which the police figured; A few evenings ago he injudiciously interposed between a constable and a man whom he was arresting on a charge of drunkenness; On Wednesday Mr.. Fow- . ler appeared at the local Court to answer a charge of obstructing the police in the execution of their duty. He was convicted and fined £5 End costs, the penalty being accompanied by some pungent remarks , . from the magistrate, on the standard of conduct expected from men holding public positions. When the Borough Council met last night, Mr. Fowler was in his accustomed seat, but before the ordinary business was taken the Mayor said th?t he bad been advised by the borough solicitor that Mr. Fowler's seat was vacant by reason of. his conviction. He therefore requested him to leave the table. - Mr. Fowler accepted the position grace- . fully, and immediately complied with the Mayor's request. The vacancy will be filled by a by-election.