CENSORSHIP WANTED?

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 141, 16 June 1932, Page 7

CENSORSHIP WANTED?

NEWS OF NEW ZEALAND.

PUBLICATION OVERSEAS.

REPORTS OF AUCKLAND RIOTS.

Reference to exaggerated reports of the Auckland riots which appeared in overseas newspapers was made at a meeting of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce this morning. A letter was before the council from the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. A. Hamilton, in reply to a letter which had been written by the chamber regarding the alleged misleading character of a talkie picture depicting the Auckland riot. The Minister's letter stated: — "While appreciating the sentiments which called forth the expression of the views, it does not appear that any action on the part of the Government is culled for at present. The prohibition of the export of such a film would not deal effectively with what the chamber complained of, as ordinary illustrated and typographical matter that might be sent abroad could conceivably be equally misleading. Unless and until it appears absolutely necessary to take power to prohibit the export of film or other matter that might present a misleading or distorted view of the happenings, it seems preferable to leave the appraisement of the true value of such to the general good sense of the public rather than to legislate for conditions that can only be looked upon as abnor.nal." "It is t ; mc the New /aland chambers of commerce took this matter up," said Al>. C. F. Bennett. "It is not so much the iilms, but the extraordinarily extravagant eports." He referred to an illustrated English newspaper and its description of the riote in which it was stated, among other things, that hundreds of people had been injured. He believed the chamber s-hould ask that some system of censorship should -e imposed on the Press. Reports such as had appeared were most damaging, and the time had arrived when a formal protest should be made. Mr. W. A. Boucher referred to Vancouver and Honolulu newspapers, which had published exaggerated reports. In his opinion, the reports had been made deliberately to prejudice New Zealand. After it had been pointed out that a censorship of cable news had been imposed by the Postmaster-General, it was decided to inquire from the Minister the exact nature of the action which had been taken by the Government.