FLOW OF NEWS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 38, 14 February 1945, Page 5

FLOW OF NEWS

IMPERATIVE NEED

Freedom Frbm Control And Speedy Transmission

N.Z. Press Association—Copyright Reo. 11 a.m. LONDON, Feb. 13. Lord Astor, in his presidential address to the annual meeting of the Empire Press Union, said the union had always sought, practised and fought for two principles—freedom from Government control and speedy and cheap transmission of "One of our first duties after the war," Lord Astor declared, "will be to ensure for the Empire Press the full benefit of wartime technical research and invention. The aim must always be to secure the fastest possible transmission at the lowest possible rates. The exchange of news from reputable sources and of responsible comment free from Government control, from whatever country of origin, is one of the burning questions of. the day. We have seen what mischief can be wrought and what harm can be done when people are kept in ignorance of world affairs and their own country's affairs, and when news is censored, doctored and delayed. Lord Astor recalled the 1939 conference of the union and expressed alarm at encroachments by legislation on the freedom of the Press. He said that as soon as circumstances permitted they should hold a conference to review the whole field together with any new opportunities which might offer.