The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-16
SIR CONAN DOYLE TAKEN FROM BOARD Says Trouble Was He Took Little Too Much Inter-
 est in His Duties

Edinburgh, July 15.-(Special.)-At the annual meeting of Cranstons Hotel Com pany IItd)-a concern which runs sev- eral hotels in the Bloomsbury district of London, held in Edinburg the other day. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle one of the d. rectors, claimed his brother directors had attacked him and attempted to thrust him off the board, refusing to compromise in any way. Sir Arthur, who had been &C., cused of neglecting his duties, said:
 "The real cause of the complaint lies in my having taken a little too much in- terest in these duties."
 Drawing attention to the company being run as a family affair, with the Robert sons and the Cranstons holding sway, Sir Arthur continued:
 You must have an absolutely inde- pendent director outside the Robertson Cranston circle. have been asked to re- sign apparently because tho directors do not wish an independent director, who IS not afraid of them and who Is prepared to take his own line on the board. l think it is common sense that the shareholders should have such a man on the board. | am not lacking In the necessary eXperl- ence, for I am director on several nour- ishing companies, one of which mas a capital of s2,5Oo,0oo.
 "Personally I have remained director very much against my will am anxious to get off the board, but the man who succeeds me must be one upon whom l can rely. As a shareholder I will continue to take the same interest in the company as I have done as a director.
 MT. Hugh Mayberry of Glasgow sala he thought Sir Arthur was the right man in the right place.
 MT. .J. II. Bunting Edinburgh, another preference shareholder, said:
 q will be very sorry to see Sir Arthur Conan Doyle leave the board. l think we are very much indebted to him, and ac- cordingly move that he be reelected to the directorate" Sir Robert Cranston, chairman, called attention to the fact that it was not the board, but the ordinary shareholders who were the electors, and, according to the constitution of the com pany, 1t was not within the province or the preference shareholders to make such a motion. vsAtzRTyF3M
 'I am down for election,' remarked Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. but apparently no one can vote for me-
 Sir Robert Cranston, continuing, said that the ordinary shareholders would have voted for him if they had wanted him.
 At this stage MT. R. A. Robertson, director, rose and formally moved that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle be not reelected to the board.
 .srhe directors" he said, 'have tho confidence of the ordinary shareholders. Sir Arthur has referred to the ordinary shareholders as being family affair, but he did not say that 1t was owing to the Cranston influence and connection that the company had been success. Tho whole quarter of a million is family party with the exception of Sir Arthur. It was the Cranston influence and connec- ton which originated the company and brought it into being, and 1t Is to the Cranston administration and management that the company owes it's prosperity at the present time.'
 Councillor Dobbie, Edinburgh. formally seconded MT. Robertson.
 Three ordinary shareholders were pres ent and their votes were counted, in ad- dition to the proxies received, but as none of these three made 8 motion that Sir Conan Doyle be reelected to the di- rectorate, and as MT Bunting and MT. Mayberry were ruled out of order MT. Robertson's motion was carried as a mat ter of course. Concluding the business, Sir Robert Cranston said: 'I cannot let Sir Arthur Conan Doyle go without offer ing him my thanks for the interest he has taken in the company