"UNDUE ALARM."

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 146, 21 June 1940, Page 9

"UNDUE ALARM."

SUBVERSIVE STATEMENTS. ENFORCING REGULATION'S. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. The Government intends to enforce its regulations making it a punishable offence to publish statements intended or likely to cause-undue alarm to the public or to any person in relation to the public safety' or the war effort. This was emphasised in tho House of-Repre-sentatives yesterday by the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, who had been asked by the Rev. A. H. Nordmeyer (Government —Oamaru) whether the Government would take steps to <leal with those who circulated mischievous rumours calculated to cause public alarm and needlcßS anxiety to the relatives of our soldiers overseas. "We will certainly take the matter into immediate, consideration," replied Mr. Fraser,'who reminded the House of a regulation- operative during the last war which Bought these rumours under the . heading of subversive statements. This, as well as every other regulation would, he added, be enforced, and persons who published alarming statements would have to answer for their actions. In Great Britain, -under the particular stress of the present position, drastic regulations were operative in relation to this practice. However, people who actually and honestly believed something and made a mistake would not be penalised, though those who indulged iu this reprehensible and dangerous practice would come within the provisions of the law.