RUMOURS AND MINISTERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 February 1943, Page 2

RUMOURS AND MINISTERS

MR. WEBB’S DENIAL

CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 9. “I am amazed at the number of rumours, without the slightest foundation of truth, about properties held by Ministers of the Crown,” said the Minister of Labour (Mr. Webb) in an interview with “The Press” to-day. He offered to give £5O to any person or persons who could give him information which would trace the origin of the rumours and provide evidence which would enable him to take proceedings. “For instance, I am accused of having invested money in quite a number of hotels,” said Mr. Webb. “I am surprised to know the extent to which such false rumours have circulated. I say definitely, and I challenge any person to dispute my statement, that 1 have never invested a penny in any business other than my own, either in Christchurch or Wellington, or any other place. In fact, I would, be bordering on the millionaire stage if all the rumours were true.”

The persons who circulated these rumours, said Mr. Webb, were lying lor political purposes. They had circulated the story that he was seen at a race meeting in Auckland with a pair of binoculars which had been handed in for military purposes, and that, when accused by the owner, he said: “Oh, well, don’t say anything about it. I have just got them for the day.” “It is a contemptible lie, and it has received wide circulation throughout the country,” said Mr. Webb. “At the moment I am contemplating taking proceedings against a man, who, in the presence of others, said he was with the owner when he approached me.” Another’ lie which had been in circulation for nearly 12 months was that on his visit to Fiji with the Prime Minister, he had been dumped in a river by soldiers. “The facts are that we held the finest meetings it was possible to hold, and that on my return from Suva I sent out 400 messages at the request of the soldiers informing their relatives that their menfolk were well and were sending Christmas greetings through me.” The latest rumour, said the Minister, was that he was a very large shareholder of United Dairies Ltd., of Christchurch. “I hardly knew such an organisation existed, but some of the whisper-mongers have set in circulation the story that I am associated with the company. In Australia, at this moment, a law has been passed invoking heavy penalties on rumour and scaremongers, who undermine morale or confidence in the Government.”