Clubmate backs Bush’s stand

Press, 4 August 1977, Page 1

Clubmate backs Bush’s stand

The Bill Bush controversy took a fresh turn yesterday—with claim and counter-claim about job availability at the Belfast freezing works.

Brent Hayes, a wing in the Belfast Rugby Club’s senior XV, and a freezing worker at Belfast, said he had had an experience similar to Bush’s after saying recently that he was going to South Africa for a year’s working holiday. Hayes alleged that the secretary of the Meat Workers’ Union (Mr C. E. Knowles) told him that he would not recommend that his seniority number be held in his absence.

“I approached Mr Knowles in the Zetland Hotel on Saturday evening and asked if my number could be kept during my absence overseas,” said Hayes. “He told me he would not recommend it if I went to South Africa.”

However, Mr Knowles said that this was not correct He said Hayes had not approached him about keeping his number. “All he said was that he was leaving the works, and Wasn’t coming back. He said he was going to South Africa.” Mr Knowles said. that Belfast freezing workers had a high reputation for supporting sports.- Competitors representing New Zealand overseas had been granted dispensation, and had also been given financial support. “We took up a collection

for Bill Bush before he went to South Africa last year,” he said. Similar assistance had been given John Greengrass, the rugby league international forward, and the national coxed four rowing crew.

“As far as going to South Africa is concerned. I’m against it, but that is my personal opinion,” Mr Knowles said. Mr Knowles’s statement — that he did not have the power to make Bush lose his job was technically correct — said Hayes. But as sub-branch secretary, his recommendations were usually accepted. “If he recommends against you at a meeting

of members of your own department, it is not very likely that you will keep your number," said Bush. Hayes, like Bush, said he was disturbed by Mr Knowles’s attitude about contact with South Africa.

It was not right that a man in Mr Knowles’s position should use his personal views on outside matters to influence decisions about job availability. Bush said that Mr Knowles had hinted that he would lose his seniority number at the works if he went to South Africa to play for the World XV this month. Bush is adamant that he will go ahead with the visit.