ANSWER IS “ZIPP”

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21370, 14 March 1941, Page 2

ANSWER IS “ZIPP”

TIGHT-MOUTHED AUSTRALIANS NEW ZEALANDER’S IMPRESSIONS “ The people of Australia, or of Sydney at any rate, do not talk about the war, and when it comes to spreading rumours or giving information of any kind, they can almost show points to an oyster.” This observation was made to a reporter by a Hastings woman who has just returned from a trip to Australia, and the informant suggested that it would be a good thing if the people of New Zealand emulated the example. “ All over Sydney there are huge posters of a man’s face, and across his mouth is a large zip fastener, which is closed up, and the word ‘ zip ' is so prominent on the poster that it is very striking,” she continued. “ As a stranger, I found that the only answer I could get to any queries concerning the war was the word ‘ zip.’ ” As an instance, the informant, a woman, stated that during her visit a famous ship arrived in Sydney, and, seeing it for the first time she asked a bystander if he could confirm her suspicion that the ship was the one she thought it was, but the man simply brushed his hand over his mouth and answered: ’’ Zip.” Even children are just as tight-lipped, for when she asked a boy if he had come down to see the big ship, the only answer she could get was “ Zip ” once again. ” To every question concerning the war, the answer is ‘ Zip,’ and those posters seem to have provided an easy and popular way of stepping the spread of rumour and information,” she added.