NEWS AND RUMOURS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 66, 25 September 1939, Page 5

NEWS AND RUMOURS

SOME STRAY THOUGHTS

BEWARE OP EXAGGERATION

Why on earth people spread rumours in times like these is a mystery deep and dark. Of course a lot of it comes through casual speculation being passed on as fact, as for inwhen Bill says to Tom "1 wouldn't be surprised if they didn't put petrol up,'" and Tom says to Jack "I think they'll put petrol up 3d a gallon,-' and Jack says to Fred "I hear they're putting petrol up 3:1 a gallon"' and Fred says to Alt' "I was talking to a man who has just come back arom Auckland and he says that they're putting petrol up by at least 3d a gallon." This is a fairly prevalent rumour. Another one is the increase jn the wage tax, which, has grown in 'the telling from 2s early last week to 3s yesterday, and will probably touch o.s before long. You arc only helping to undermine confidence and make business even more difficult by this kind of talk, and one service everyone can, do i.s to check anyone spreading the reports. Much the same thing as regards distorted news happens concerning radio broadcasts of the war news and there was a striking example • when the Courageous was torpedoed. In one news bulletin it was stated that n Royal Air Force pilot had bombed and sunk a submarine while on patrol, that at least five submarines had been sunk since hostilities began,

and that the destroyer escort had depth-charged and - s nnk the submarine which torpedoed the aircraft carrier. A man who heard this broadcast said with every appearance of certainty' that the submarine which torpedoed the ship was sunk by a plane from the air, and that there were five submarines lurking on the spot to attack the vessel, not 'just one. The remedy vrould seem to be either to listen to broadcasts carefully or switch the radio off. Aon certainly don't get anywhere by listening with one ear to the radio and to a conversation 'with the other:. ORIGIN OF BROADCASTS. It is also as well to identify the origin before condemning H. Occasionally the BBC gives over .some typically stupid or distorted German comment'; on the war not bccause siU'h statements have the official of the British Govern,ment, but because England'.-, case is strong enough to allow her to be perfectly fair and broadcast some specimens of the enemy's arguments, condemning Germany out of her own mouth. Tt is thus well to make sure who is broadcasting and whv the message ii lining broadcast, before rushing tic to the radio nnd turning it off with a patriotic thump, o~ sccnsina Daventry of maliciously .spreading enemy propaganda. It might be well, too. if one remembered that Fln'iland has at all time- stood for tolerance and an attempt to eredir. the otn°~ side wiln some dualities. You don't f-P-ht any thr- v.-orse for it.. Tt is worth remembering, too. thai war hysteria is prettv generally a mark of the man in safety behind the line. The soldier in the trenches in the Inst war hail a gooci deal of dislike for Germanv and her methods, but grim determination and a mixin, j-r of respect and tolerance for the individual German, was generally his j attitude.