PECULIAR METHODS OF UNION & LABOR DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS.

NZ Truth, Issue 72, 8 December 1906, Page 8

PECULIAR METHODS OF UNION & LABOR DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS.

10 THE EDITOB. Sir, — Having had a conviction, recorded against me m the Arbitration Court for, an alleged breach of the award and not beinp- notified of their intention to proceed against me, I was fined £2 m my absence. With your usual leaning to anything pertaining to justice, I crave your space to give a few facts m connection, with same. While on my round, proceeding up Nairn-street, I overtook Mr A. H. Cooper and asked for a receipt for 7s 6d, fees due to the Butcher's Union, which he duly accepted. During course of conversa-. tion a lad came from his mother's home and asked for her joint of meat. I gave 'it to him but' it did not suit, so he returned with it on the score of it being top large. I could not change it on account of it' once going out of; mv hands into a customer's house, the reasons I full explained. Mr Cooper, ex-candidate for Parliamentary honors m the interest of the poor working man, stood by during this gigantic transaction, and with the true instincts of Sherlock Holmes, seized my gonce and then dashed off to the Butchers' "Onion and, quietly whispered m their lug that this man Swiney had violated the award by employing this boy to take his mother's meat' m, if you please. Now, Sir, I ask . where does the breach .come m ? Does a person not go to a shop and get his meat and carry it horns ? I maintain it is abusing the award and making the Arbitration Court a farce m trying such, trivial rubbish. There is a pernicious connection m these cases. Very often the Inspector is paid 10s and expenses per day when engaged looking for breaches, and I ask you does it, not savor of "anything for a conviction" to justify their cxisttence. Also let me explain that the Labor Department's Inspector, Mr Halley, absolutely led me to believe that there could be no case against me at all for such a trivial thing as that, and also* said that Mr Cooper could employ his "talents" to better advantage m something more substantial. But it is obvious someone pot the "big lug" of the Labor ■Penartmp<n+ and po*i. ? ed m ; their tale and they drank i(, m like swankov. Thanking you m nnticipation. — Yo'irs pfc.