DEATH OF A RUMOUR

New Zealand Listener, Volume 1, Issue 21, 17 November 1939, Page 4

DEATH OF A RUMOUR

UMOUR, that wily enemy of i€ reputations and _ institutions, spreads its destructive net more readily and easily when war is in the air. Put thousands of men into camps, and rumour immediately gets busy, however wild and baseless its genesis. No names need be mentioned. "I was told," "They told me," "He told a friend of mine," are only a few of the beginnings to the overture. Some idle fragment of gossip goes its way, building like a snowball but much more destructive in its objective. Rumours from the camps have been legion, but the Defence authorities, with one ear tuned to the ground, have decided that any false stories calculated to affect the ordinary soldier shall be investigated thoroughly. This is just another proof that the welfare of our soldiers is the first consideration of all concerned. Here is one true story from Trentham of how a rumour was laid low and proved to be utterly: without foundation. No names will be mentioned, for obvious reasons, but a pile of official corres-

pondence is evidence of the thoroughness of the investigation. One day a letter from the parents of a soldier in camp reached the authorities and stated on reliable authority that (1) the food was badly cooked and totally inadequate; (2) there was grave dissatisfaction among the soldiers. An investigation was begun immediately. Thirty companions of the soldier concerned were questioned. One said he had heard some vague reference to dissatisfaction; the others had no cause for complaint. Apart from saying that the tea had not been very good, they assured the authorities that they were quite satisfied. The meals were plain but adequate and the food was well cooked. Statements were taken from every section commander up to company commanders, but no instance of any serious complaint could be discovered. Finally the soldier himself expressed regret to the authorities for having caused so much trouble. The whole thing had begun by a chance remark, made without serious thought, in a letter to his parents.