AN AWKWARD CHARGE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 107, 2 June 1909, Page 4

AN AWKWARD CHARGE.

ME. BUST'S "SNAKE IX THE GRASS." A New*' reporter had a conversation with Mr. V. It. Bust, the Auckland Slaughtermen's Union secretary, concerning his published statement- that bis union had been "'betrayed by a snake in the grass." Mr. Busit 'was emphatic in his reiteration of this charge against the local slaughtermen, and (utrticularly in reference to the head s'laughte'Muan at the Xew Plymouth abattoirs. Mr. Bust explained that had his' union known of the agreement between the Borough Council and ita abattoir employees, different action would have been taken. But the head slaughterman, 'although summoned to Auckland to answer a charge that he had entered into an agreement with bis employer without first referring the agreement to the union, absolutely denied all knowledge of any such agreement. "Right up till the l!)th of last month (April loth)," said Mr. Bust, "1 can show you that he denied that he had made any agreement with the Council. And then, when t come here before the Commissioner, 1 have this agreement put before me. What is a man to do when he is absolutely misled like that by the man at whose instigation this case' was brought ? He got me .here in the first place, and I ascertained that a branch could l.e formed. Then we formed the branch, and he it was who urged me. personally, by letter, and by -telegram, to bring this case and bring them under the award. Why, we iha'd a special meeting the night before the first session of the Conciliation Council. He was' there, but I got no idea that, there 'was going to be this treachery."