DISCUSSIONS AT MEETINGS

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28930, 25 June 1959, Page 12

DISCUSSIONS AT MEETINGS

“Only Publish Results”

Persona] discussions at the meetings of the Christchurch Road Safety Committee should not be published in the newspapers, only the results of such discussions, suggested Mr N. Wright (Institute of Opticians) when the committee met last evening.

If this was done, “a more open and friendly atmosphere” would be created at the meetings. Mr Wright said. Mr Wright said he felt the present meeting had been “a happy meeting” for members. It had been a “friendly and chatty” meeting.

At the last meeting, a reporter had gone round the table and taken the name of each member. He felt that that had had an effect on the atmosphere of the meeting. Members had “hardly said anything” In personal discussion, a member was sometimes expressing his own opinions, and sometimes the views of his organisation

“What is said sometimes hits bac at the organisation or the road safety council itself.” Mr Wright said Mr Wright expressed regret that certain remarks passing between two members at the last meeting had been published in the newspapers.

“It may be good fun for the members present, but it is not good publicity for the serious body of men we are supposed to be,” said Mr Wright. He was not criticising the reporters, but that should not be put in the newspapers “under headlines." “Personal discussion should not be published, only the results." Mr Wright said. “We ought to be thankful for the papers staking out something to put headlines on, and dressing up our meetings,” said Miss M. McLean (City Council). “If a dry-as-dust edict is issued from this meeting, very few people will read it.

“But with a little dust-up, and a little fun, the public will read it,” Miss McLean said Other members expressed similar views.