ORIGIN OF “SPIVS"
U.I.P.’S IN REVERSE
AIR FORCE EXPLANATION (P.R.) WELLINGTON. Sept. 13The question ol Mr. J. B. F. Cotterill (Govt., Wanganui) in the House o£ Representatives yesterday suggesting that New Zealand's “spivs” should be rounded up has provoked a keen discussion in the lobbies as to the meaning and origin of this odd post-war term.
Mr. Cotterill’s definition of “spivs” as people in whatever sphere of life who toiled not neither did they spin is generally accepted. A member with an Air Force background has suggested the derivation. He said that “spivs” was merely "V.l.P.’s” spelt backwards. “V.l.P.'s” was an Air Force term for “very important personages” and referred particunrly to distinguished passengers carried by service aircraft —not, ot course, that “spiv” was intended to refer to distinguished personages only. _ Right or wrong, this suggested derivation is the onlv one accepted with any appearance of Togic and is accepted in default of any other.
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Bibliographic details
Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22434, 15 September 1947, Page 6
Word Count
155ORIGIN OF “SPIVS" Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22434, 15 September 1947, Page 6
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