FALSE STATEMENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 6 August 1929, Page 9

FALSE STATEMENTS

iTo the Editor)

Sir —The letter in vour issue of 2nd August, from Mr G. A. Edmonds, Town Clerk, and secretary to Reliel I'und, refuting idle rumours' (idle but not uiiinischievous if not refuted), lias stirred up two thoughts that have been lying idle in my mind. I hope you will permit me to express them in the hope that more practical minds may take them up, it they are of any value. Mr Edmonds' words: "It is impossible to keep pace with the false statements that are being made" have a very wide application in the social, business, and political life of this country. We need two things, 1 think. Wo need a N.Z. Vigilance Association, with committees in "each centre, to check file beginnings of malicious and false statements. Sueti statements generally have a w-Mc circulation, especially when frightful ones ere ever they come to 'lie ken oi those most concerned. We need some sort ol insurance against defamation of character. The public school teachers have it, T believe, through (heir Association or Institute (1 do not know which). Such insurance would do at least two tilings. It, wlnuld save people from shock re statements made because they could- hand them over at once to an efficient body to act for them, and it would save the pockets of the libelled. Many of these latter have net even the money (:,,> consult lawyers. Such insurance would, I am sure, be a safeguard and comfort to many women, of all ranks, who need lo earn their living. Their conlinuaiiCfi in their work often depends on knowing how to defend themselves against false charges, anci how many women know how to do that?

] trust, sir, Dial your public will think over these two surest ions, anil net on them if thi'V consider them good. 1 t\v.:, etc.. GRACE FOX. Otaki. 3rd August.