WAR “HORROR” STORIES

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23587, 14 March 1942, Page 8

WAR “HORROR” STORIES

COMMENT BY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The publication of war “horror - ’ stories by daily newspapers was condemned by the Mayor of Hawera (Mr L. H. Clapham) at a meeting of the Hawera Chamber of Commerce. Members expressed the opinion that the particular story referred to might well have not been published, but no action was taken.

The subject of Mr. Clapham’s complaint was a Press Association message in which it was related that after the torpedoing of a ship men were forced to stand by and watch their comrades struggle in shark-infested seas. He thought steps should be taken to prevent the publication of such details which were most upsetting to the relatives of the men aboard ships and overseas.

“I would hesitate to ask the censor to take any action,” said Mr G. J. Bayley. "There would be a grave danger if a public body such as this recommended the suppression of such news, - ’ said the chairman (Mr L. A. AbletU One point of view was why should the protected, complacent civilian, living in comfort, be saved from the true horrors of war, but on the other hand there was good reason for the elimination of horror stories. The publicatibn of the atrocities of Hong Kong was done with a purpose. Had a serious view been taken of the sacking of Nanking in 1937 we would have been prepared for this w’ar. "The more truth that comes into the country, the better,” said Mr W. V. Patterson. The toning down of war news had not had a desirable effect in New Zealand and Australia.