CHATTERBUGS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 27, 1 February 1941, Page 10

CHATTERBUGS

(To the Editor.) S^r,— The man in the street is at present making a hue and cry about the reported leakage of information from New Zealand to enemy raiders, and irately saying "Something ought to be done." t)6es the man in the street realise that in many ways he is far from blameless in spreading information which is useful to the enemy? I travel daily in and out of the city by tramcar and am frequently astounded at the information regarding troop movements, naval movements, and general shipping movements, etc., which is discussed—in by nO means undertones—by' the travelling public. Men in uniform are to blame for answering the questions of their relatives and friends concerning their movements, places of destination, etc. The Prime Minister called the attention of the public to the danger of idle talk in this connection many months ago but his plea for discretion met with no response. I have heard men in uniform answer questions regarding troops and ships. All sorts of, confidential information which, to ensure the safety of life in vfartime, should never be aired in public, is frequently passed on by persons who state they have acquired their knowledge from service friends or relatives. Why does the public make such a song about leakages and still take ntt steps to stop this general chatter which is so dangerous? If every citizen drew the attention of persons speaking of shipping or troop movements to the fact that they were doing a disservice to their country and that their talk was a potential cause of loss of life of service personnel and travellers generally perhaps this dangerous source of information so useful to the enemy would be stopped. The present state ■of affairs warrants legislation under which persons passing on mr formation of this nature Could be fined —especially service personnel who apparently will not realise that they are endangering their own and others' lives when they tell their families and friends when and where they are going, etc. For safety's sake, John Citizen, wake up and "shut up.—l am, etc., KEEP IT DARK.