IDLE RUMOURS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXIII, Issue 21, 23 December 1942, Page 2

IDLE RUMOURS

(P.A.) . WELLINGTON, Dec. 23. “It seems necessary once more to warn the public against rumours and rumour-mongers,” the Prime Minister declared to-day. “There seems to have been a recurrence of this kind of thing, and I am astonished that people can be ready to believe and spread all kinds of absurd stories. “One such talc in particular, which seems to be widely current just now, relates to the alleged sinking, with heavy loss of life, of a certain ship,” Mr Eraser said. “The story is absolutely without foundation and those who assist in spreading this and similar rumours should realise not only that they may do great harm, hut also that they assist in causing quite unnecessary distress to others. Whoever passes on a rumour, whether through thoughtlessness or mischief, is deserving of severe punishment, and the police have been given strict instructions to take action in any case that comes to their notice.” Mr Fraser appealed to the public to do their utmost to stop such rumours, and added that whenever a ship was lost the next-of-kin of all on hoard were advised immediately, and they should pay no attention to any other story.