ADMISSION OF PRESS

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23948, 15 May 1943, Page 6

ADMISSION OF PRESS

MINISTER’S REQUEST DISREGARDED NORTH OTAGO PRODUCTION COUNCIL’S DECISION (0.R.) OAMARU, May 14. Disregarding a direct request to the contrary, backed by a threat of action from the Hon. J, G. Barclay, Minister of Agriculture and Marketing, the North Otago Production Council to-day decided to adhere to its previous decision to admit the press to its meetings. A motion to exclude the newspapers was lost by 10 votes to five.' The chairman (Mr W. Malcolm) said that as a letter had been received from the Minister on the question of the press, he thought the position should be clarified before commencing the ordinary business. The motion to go into committee was immediately moved by Mr T. Gill, and seconded by Mr T, Sellwood, of the Department of Agriculture. This, on being put to the meeting, was lost by eight votes to six. The letter from the Minister was then read. It was as follows: “As your council has been told from its inception, and particularly during the last six months, that you have been set up to assist the Primary Production Council, members, as such, should not publicly create disharmony between producers and the State. You have been requested to take up all matters of difference between your council and the State departments concerned, to publish only the considered opinion of your council, and to keep private and personal viewpoints in their proper place—round the council table. "Councils are financed by the State, and must follow the general rules of conduct approved by State departments. Unless members appreciate their functions and the responsibilities of their position, I will have to consider whether they should continue to act as my advisers. I would like some indication from your council of the attitude you propose to adopt in this matter. I shall be guided in my decision by your reply.” The letter was received, on the motion of Mr B. B. Blackmore. "When members of the production council accepted their appointments, they did so on the understanding that they were free to express their views on questions related to production.” said Mr Walton; "that has been my attitude throughout, and I am prepared to stand by all my statements, as reported in the press. I have made statements in the interests of production, and if f have criticised, it has been constructive criticism, and it is not right for any Minister to impute political motives to statements made by me. I have spoken only in the interests of production, and if I am not to be allowed to speak in the presence of the press. I, for one, will resign my scat.” (Applause.) Mr Walton added that he had had occasion to draw attention to the lack of co-ordination that had existed between the Army and the Department of Agriculture, and. at last, after three years, Army camps had been established to assist with the harvest. His criticism. Mr Walton contended. had been justified by subsequent action. “Slashing Editorial Attack” Moving that the council should comply with the wishes of the Minister and exclude the. press, Mr Gill said he had changed his attitude to the press. The council at its last meeting had gone into committee to discuss the exclusion of the press, and it had been decided to take up the question with the National Council of Production, members of which were men held in the highest respect, and who would not be dictated to by anybody. It was their wish that the press should be excluded from council meetings. After the meeting, however, a certain statement had been made regarding the discussion, and this had been published in the “Oamaru Mail” and “The Press.” Mr Gill said he held responsible two men, a member of the production council and a reporter who accepted statements from him., Subsequently, other statements had been published after the Minister’s address at Waimate. and these had been used for a slashing editorial attack on the Minister by the Oamaru “Mail.” which newspaper, the speaker alleged, had misrepresented the Minister for the purposes of the attack. It was obvious, said Mr Gill, that the production council was being used as the means of attacking the Minister and the Government, The chairman; But. Mr Gill, this council is not responsible for what appears in the newspapers in press interviews, and the statements have nothing to do with us. Mr Gill: But the inference is that the men concerned are speaking for the production council. What inference can we draw when our news appears on the same page as an editorial, attacking the Government, which makes use of production council reports. I’m not going to stand for that sort of thing. At this stage. Mr Blackmore seconded Mr Gill's motion pro forma. Help of the Press Mr J. Kingan said that the press had at no time disregarded the direction by the chairman not to publish any particular letter or discussion. The press had been most considerate and helpful. and without the newspapers it would be impossible to influence farmers. "One member has stressed the need for unity.” said Mr R. S. Mitchell, “but I would say that freedom of speech and freedom to live are of equal importance. The best way to influence farmers is to get at them through the press. There , are two other councils in this, Auckland and Christchurch, and I understand that they haven’t yet been taken to task by the Minister. The press should be here always. Wc need its assistance.” ”If we are not allowed to use the press, then our standing with the farmers will be absolutely nil.” said the chairman. “It is possible that Mr Gill's motion will be defeated, and the next move then rests with the Minister He can withhold our supplies, or, on the other hand, he can allow the council to function until proposals for reorganisation come into operation, when he may exercise the right to object to certain members of the council. At an)’ rate, the Minister will have the final say.” ~ Continuing, the chairman said the admission of the press was not a trivial matter, and he agreed wholeheartedly with the statement of the Rt. Hon. G.jv. Forbes, at a meeting of the Christchurch Production Council, that the Minister's request was quite unneces-•:-.irv, In the past, anything marked confidential was taken in committee, and had not been published. The

council was concerned only with its deliberations, and if members spoke as private citizens, then they were in no way acting on their own initiative, and in no way for the production council. WEST COAST COUNCIL’S DECISION CONFIDENCE IN PRESS By a unanimous vote, 22 delegates, representing farmers from all parts of the West Coast, agreed, at a meeting of the Primary Production Council at Greymouth yesterday, to stand by the council in its decision to admit the press to its meetings. Mr W. Vallance • Rotomanu), Mr Mould, and Mr P. J. O'Regan (Inangahua) seconded the motion, Mr O’Regan said the press had always, in his long experience, performed its duties with circumspection and caution, and had always treated the chairmen’s rulings with respect. He added (hat the Minister of Agriculture had declared against the reporting of production council proceedings, but the Minister, as his name implied, was a servant of the public, and the public had the right to know how its business was being transacted and how its money was being spent. Mr'W. H. Martin (Westport) alluded to the community's "great measure of confidence in Hie press." The production council had nothing to hide from the public, he said.