NEWSPAPERS’ HELP

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 28, 12 November 1949, Page 4

NEWSPAPERS’ HELP

GRATITUDE OF CHURCH

“Attacks upon the Press are frequent and popular among certain groups of people, but I want to 1 say that after working with newspapers in handing out news, 1 am convinced that they do their utmost to be fair and objective and that they are most helpful to our Church,” said the Rev. F. R. Belmer, convener of the Press and Publicity Cojnmittde, when speaking at the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand in Timaru yesterday.

Mr Belmer said he was expressingthe of the Church when he made this statement, for the continued assistance of the Press throughout New Zealand in giving publicity to news of the Church was deeply appreciated. A mutual trust had been built up between the Church and the Press.

Assembly committees were recommended to issue news of national interest through the Press and Publicity Committee to ensure adequate coverage, said the Rev. G. E. Dallard. During the year 3000 inches had been published on Presbyterian Church news, and this , was largely owing to the exceptional co-operation of the Wellington newspapers and'the New Zealand . Press Association, stated a report submitted to the Assembly. While news of national t importance would be given ready publicity throughout the Dominion, the position of less spectacular news changed from the north to the south. In the south it was easier to get local news into local newspapers, but such news had little likelihood of finding its way into the northern newspapers. In contrast the further north one went the more difficult it was to secure local publication, but when it was published there was frequently given national distribution, the renort stated.