“ALARMING REVOLT”

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21221, 18 September 1940, Page 6

“ALARMING REVOLT”

FABRICATION ABOUT MAORIS EPIDEMIC NEWS CONTORTED (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Tuesday 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 miiltary service on religious grounds on bearing that they would be sent overseas. News has just reached London from Wellington that an epidemic has broken out among troops which will in any event make it impossible for them to be sent overseas.” In the course of a reply to Mr Jordon 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 the Maori unit is overseas and Maori reinforcements are already 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 stupid nonsense. “While it is true a slight epidemic of measles broke out among troops, the situation was never serious and is now well in hand.” LONDON REPLIES OBSERVER MAKES FILM (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Tuesday A remarkable news film is being shown in Wellington. It is called “London’s Reply to German claims,” and is a pictorial record made by a neutral observer on a tour of London on August 23. The film was received by Sir Harry Batterbee, United Kingdom High Commissioner, to-day. It was posted in London on September 5 and travelled by air mail across the Atlantic and the Pacific, making the journey at over 1000 miles a day.