CALLED MUDDLE OF WORST KIND.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 217, 14 September 1939, Page 8

CALLED MUDDLE OF WORST KIND.

ATTACK in HOUSE.

"Ministry Of Information

Not Co-operating."

PUBLICATION OF NEWS.

United Press Association.—Copyright.

{Received 1 p.m.)

LONDON, September 13.

In the House of Commons, "Mr. Arthur Greenwood, acting-Leader of the Opposition, attacked the Ministry of Information, ar.d declared the treatment of the story of the arrival of British troops in France created among the publishing and newspaper trade of Britain consternation, dismay, confusion and enormous expense, which was unwarrantable.

He explained the Ministry first allowed the publication of the news, then cancelled it, then reallowed it.

He declared the newspapers were justified in calling it a muddle of the worst kind.

"We are entitled to know who is responsible for treating the people of Britain like children," lit: said. "I have a. document here showing that the absuT'dity is due to one person, Mr. Hore Belisha, who has 110 right to over-ride the Minister of Information." Mr. Greenwood added that there was no effective co-operation between the fighting services and the Ministry of Information. The neutral Press was relying on German sources because it got plenty of news i;i good time.

1 urning to supply, Mr. Greenwood said the task had not been faced with sufficient vigour. Profiteering was going on on a large scale. The trade unions were in no mood to be regarded as a poor relation, and claimed equality in tiie direction of policy.

Sir Samuel Hoare, Lord Privy Seal, gave an assurance that a senior officer of each service would in future be at the disposal of the Ministry of Information to act in conjunction with it. He added that the General Staff protested strongly against the publication of the news about the Expeditionary Force, but when it was pointed out that it was already in circulation the prohibition was withdrawn.

The fact that public discussion was possible 011 the mistakes of the Ministry was a sign not of weakness but of strength. Naturally they would take time to »et a complicated department running smoothly. The Minister of Jnioi illation considered the department <<IIOIII<I be a source of information and not an organ of censorship. He was determined to tell Britain's story fully to England and abroad.