The Manawatu Herald. Saturday, May 8, 1915. THE RUMOUR MONGER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1395, 8 May 1915, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Saturday, May 8, 1915. THE RUMOUR MONGER.

Excitaulk and gossipy persons iu the habit ol circulating perni- | cions war rumours should take warning by the punishment meted out to an Auckland woman, who was recently Sued £ 1 and costs. The Magistrate remarked that perhaps it would be a lesson to people circulating such rumours to learn that the maximum fine for the offence is ,£too. Last Saturday night a rumour was circulated locally to the effect that half of the New Zealanders had been cut up in the Dardanelles. The effect of such statements upon those who have relatives at the front can be well imagined. The Wellington Post rightly points out that the community has a number of vicious or thoughtless persons who either start a lie deliberately or put their own construction —a stupid one —on the truth, and this mischievous distortion scon circulates per credulous ears and parrot lips. The worst offender is, of course, the original faker or muddler, but people who accept sensational allegations, without question, and pass them on, are also culpable and deserving of punishment. One useful question to put to a bearer of startling “news” is; “What is your evidence ?” or “Who is your authority?” Usually a simple query is sufficient to explode the narrative at once. An unreasoning acceptance and transmission ot rumours can quickly put many people into a sad state of pain and anxiety. The common rules of humanity should prompt the average citizen to refrain from assisting iu the circulation of fabrications or exaggerations which have emanated from weak or foolish heads.