“STRONG EXCEPTION.”

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 236, 18 July 1936, Page 4

“STRONG EXCEPTION.”

The resolution carried by the MidCanterbury Executive of the Farmers’ Union yesterday regarding the publication of the recent interview with an Ashburton “Business Man” reiterates, though in stronger terms, the protests made by correspondents. It is based on a misconception of the duty of a newspaper, as shown by the concluding clause, “without sufficiently investigating the truth of the statements.” As was made clear a few days ago, the statements made by' the man interviewed have no relation to the editorial views or policy of this paper. The opinions expressed were distinctly stated to be those of the individual concerned, thus carrying no endorsement by the paper. As such there was no obligation to “sufficiently investigate the the statements.” The views were published for what they were worth. Had publicity been given on the paper’s own authority, as a statement of fact, the position would have been entirely different. In that case sufficient investigation of the truth of the statements would have been imperative. In our previous article we dealt with the functions of a newspaper in the matter of interviews and we feel sure that if the members of the Executive will re-read it they will come to the conclusion that according to journalistic practice the “Guardian” has done nothing worthy of censure. Readers will share with us an appreciation of the humour of the position: For while raising serious objections to “A Business Man” presuming to offer advice to farmers in the conduct of their affairs, the Executive assumes the role of censor in respect to the “Guardian’s” conduct of its business.