BERLIN STORY OF REBELLION

Southland Times, Issue 24234, 18 September 1940, Page 4

BERLIN STORY OF REBELLION

Maoris At Wellington

(United Pre-- Association)

WELLINGTON, September 17. German broadcast announcers have made an attempt to improve on the recent report from Rome announcing a rebellion in Wellington. The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. 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 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 a 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 are already formed in New Zealand and are eagerly awaiting the time when they will join their brothers. This should be sufficient refutation, if any were needed, to this stupid nonsense. While it is true that a slight epidemic of measles broke out among the troops, the situation was never serious and is now well in hand.”

REPORT ABOUT N.Z. TROOPS PUBLICATION DENIED BY THE NEW YORK TIMES NEW YORK, September 16. The New York Times has received a cablegram from the Prime Minister of New Zealand, the Rt. Hon. P. 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. He expressed certainty that the paper had not published it, but requested an authoritative denial.

The New York Times denies the radio claim, declaring that it never published such a report.