FREEDOM OF PRESS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 177, 27 July 1940, Page 8

FREEDOM OF PRESS.

A notable victory for the fundamental democratic right of freedom of the Press has been won in Australia. There the Federal Government, which was given "all-in" powers by Parliament, proceeded to abuse those powers by issuing regulations under which newspapers could be compelled to publish Government statements anywhere in their columns and in the "manner or form" determined by the Government. Thus the Government would have had power not only to prohibit the publication of facts which might be helpful to the enemy, but to say to any newspaper: "Here is the truth. Print jfc and print it where we tell you." The usual assurances were given that there was no intention to use these powers literally and fully, and that reputable journals need hav© no fear. But Australia would have none of it. Press and public criticism was swift, angry and widespread, and it transcended all political and party boundaries. It was seen that —in the words of tho Melbourne "Argus"—"newspapers which have prided themselves upon being fearless as well as reputable are in real danger that bureaucracy will classify as reputable those complacent journals willing to dance to every tune that bureaucracy pipes, and as subversive those temerarious enough to criticise bureaucracy when it is deemed to deserve criticism." The upshot was that Cabinet, some of whose members were reputed to be ready to resign because of their disapproval, withdrew the regulations. It was a salutary lesson to the Government that though the people were ready to grant it unlimited powers for war purposes they were not prepared even to risk the reduction of their newspapers to the status of purveyors of Governmentmaxrafactured soothing syrup.