CIVILIANS WARNED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21066, 10 April 1943, Page 2

CIVILIANS WARNED

INCITING SOLDIERS FIGHTS IN WELLINGTON WILD RUMOURS DENIED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, April 10. A warning that civilians who incited men in the armed forces to fight in the street - , would be very firmly dealt with by the police, irrespective of sex or age, was given yesterday by the Commissioner of Police, Mr. D. J. Cummings. He also rebuked rumour-mongers and referred to a disturbance which occurred in the streets of Wellington a few nights ago. “There was certainly a bit of a skirmish.” said Mr. Cummings. "It started in a lane and was quickly handled by the police and by provosts from the various fighting services. The crowd was dispersed by a small crowd gathered again and. in turn, was dispersed. Later in the evening another little group started an argument and was dispersed. “There was not a single person injured much less taken to hospital or killed as rumour has it,” said the Commissioner. The only result of the disturbance was that, one New Zealand civilian was arrested and dealt with by the court and one New Zealand serviceman arrested and dealt with by his own officers. No United States servicemen were arrested or charged.” The Commissioner said he could not understand how such rumours as he had heard had begun. Some appeared to have grown as they went round. The spreading of such rumours should be discouraged at any time but particularly during war. “I do not expect there will be any repetition of the affair, but if there should be we are doing to deal very firmly with civilians, no matter what their sex or age, who cause trouble between members of the armed forces," he said. “Similarly, firm action would be taken by the services against any of their own men concerned. On the whole the conduct of both New Zealand and United States servicemen is excellent and they cause the police very little trouble.”