DAME RUMOUR.

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 September 1917, Page 6

DAME RUMOUR.

STILL UOlMi STKONO

From time to time (says a Wellington correspondent) rather extraordinary news is published in other parts of the Empire about New Zealand., News of the recent earthquake was cabled abroad. and apparently featured a very serious affair. Mr. Hornsby produced one of the cablegrams. yesterday, amd asked Mr. Massey to" see that the Government exercised a,' censorship over such news. Mr. Witty referred to a. report current in Australia, recently llnTt there had been riots here, that machineguns were turned on the crowd, and ihat 50 Queenslanders were killed. The Prime Minister said lie had done liis best to contradict some of the Hones'. He promised to do his best to prevent the sending out of this incorrect news about New Zealand, Another rumor was referred to by Mr. Sykes. It was to the effect that, the Government intended to call up for medical examination the returned and discharged soldiers prior to t«kthe first ballot of the Second Division. Sir James Allen said he did not know why these idle and silly rumors! got about, and lie did not. know why members were so silly as to take notice of them. The Act said that discharged soldiers were not in the reserve, and could not be called up. An extraordinary rumor flew like wildfire round Wellington on Monday morning, to the effect that Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P. for Hutt, had been instantaneously killed through a collision between his motor car and a train, while the member was on his:, way to the Otaki races. The story caused a profound sensation in the Supremo Court Buildings, where a very large bar had assembled for tire opening of the session of the Court of Appeal. until a. well-known K.C. rang up Mr- Wilford’s home, and discovered that he was still in bed. suffering from a cold. All the telephones in and about Parliament House and the newspaper offices were working overtone all day disposing of the silly story.