MAORI "REVOLT"

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24406, 18 September 1940, Page 6

MAORI "REVOLT"

ANOTHER FANTASTIC STORY BERLIN-ROME COMPETITION PRACTICAL REFUTATION (Per United Press Association! WELLINGTON, Sept. 17. German broadcast announcers have made an attempt to improve on the recent report from Rome announcing a rebellion in Wellington. The Prime Minister (Mr P. Fraser) has been advised by the New Zealand High Commissioner in London (Mr W. J. Jordan) that the latest effort from Berlin takes this form: "News from Wellington reveals that an alarming revolt has broken out in New Zealand, and that the Maoris have protested against military service on religious grounds on hearing that they would be sent overseas. News has just reached London from Wellington that an epidemic has broken out among the troops, which will in any. event make it impossible for them to be sent overseas."

In. the course of his reply to Mr Jordan, the Prime Minister, says: .;

" The baseless .and ridiculous report of a revolt among the Maoris of New Zealand will cause as much, amusement as the earlier report from Rome, that a rebellion had taken place in Wellington. It is well known that a Maori unit is overseas, and that Maori reinforcements have already been formed in New Zealand and are eagerly awaiting the time when they will join their brothers. This should be- a, sufficient refutation, if any.,..- were needed, of this stuoid nonsense. While it is true that a slight epidemic of measles broke out among the troops, the situation was never seriousi andiis/now.well in,hand."

THE ROlii REPORT DENIAL ISSUED IN AMERICA NEW YORK, Sept. 16. The New York Times has received a cablegram from the Prime Minister of New Zealand (Mr. Peter Fraser, protesting against the German and Rome overseas broadcast quoting the New York Times Of September; 8 as the authority for the report that New Zealand troops had revolted against embarking for England for the war. •'■' Mr Fraser called the report baseless and fantastic, and expressed the certainty that the Times had not published it, but requesting an authoritative denial. , The Times issues a denial, declaring that it never published such a report.