CHARGE AGAINST A COUNCILLOR.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 982, 24 November 1910, Page 4

CHARGE AGAINST A COUNCILLOR.

. THE CASE DISMISSED. IBy Teleeraph.—Press Association.! Dunedin, November 23. At the city Police Court to-day Mr. Widdowson heard the case against William 'Downio Stewart, city councillor, who was charged with taking part in tho discussion of a matter before the council ill which 'he had pecuniary interest. Sir. J. P. Woodhouse appeared for "tho informant (Mr. 'Jas. Connor), and Mr. S. Solomon for defendant, who. pleaded "not guilty." Tho prosecution alleged that whil© Mr. Stewart was a member of the Dunedin Engineering and Steel Company and also of the Council's Electric - Power' and Lighting and Finance Committees, documents from that company had been considered by those committees, and Sir. Stewart had voted and taken part. There was no suggestion of improper niotive, but only that a technical breach had been committed. Mr. Solomon, showed that tho account in question had been passed at a meeting at which Councillor Stewart was not E resent, and that on a previous occasion e had distinctly refused to vote on it. On the third occasion mentioned by the prosecution lie was absent again. After the luncheon adjournment Jl'r. Woodhouse said that' on further investigation he prpposed to withdraw the information. Mr. Solomon showed that Councillor Stewart had abstained from the discussion on the account in question,and had oven withdrawn from the meeting. His Worship dismissed the case, and ordered the informant to pay three guineas costs.