RUMOURS OF RUMPUS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 November 1938, Page 5

RUMOURS OF RUMPUS

AT MUNICIPAL ABATTOIR DENIED BY COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN “It is an interesting experiment, and we are watching it closely,” remarked the Mayor, Mr T. Jordan, When stating at last night’s meeting of the Borough Council that the Municipal Abattoir was being run by members of an industrial union, and controlled by a manager who was a member of the same union as the men. The task of the manager was very difficult indeed, added Mr Jordan, and he was sorry to say that it was not made any easier by the intervention of the labour secretary. The position was being carefully watched and might be brought before the council under another form in the near future. He appreciated the good work of the abattoir manager under trying conditions. Councillor R. Russell said he had heard rumours that there had been another “dust-up” between the manager and his staff last Saturday. “Is there any truth in the rumour?” he added, “and if so what is the cause of the trouble, and what is behind it? I believe that the Abattoir Committee had to have a special meeting today to deal with the “rumpus.” Mr Jordan: “Where do you get these rumours from?” Councillor Russell: .“I hear them in the street.” . Councillor A. D. Low, chairman of the committee: “The rumours have not reached my ears. We have not held any special meeting of the Abattoir Committee.” Councillor Russell: “I am glad to hear that.” Mr Jordan: "You have an extraordinary knack of hearing these rumours.” Councillor H. E. Gardner: “Where there’s smoke there’s fire.” Mr Jordan: “You heard this rumour?” Councillor Gardner: “No. But I have heard others and I am convinced there is something behind this.”