Behind Closed Doors

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28981, 24 August 1959, Page 10

Behind Closed Doors

The Timaru City Council last week held a special meeting at which it decided to seek approval for an off-street parking loan of £30,000, to accept in principle proposals for water reticulation at Washdyke, and to consider further the use of the Highfield golf course, bought earlier for £20,000. Neither the Mayor (Mr R. E. White) nor the Town Clerk (Mr J. A. Goodwin) notified the press so that the meeting could be reported in the usual way. The important decisions taken were made public only after the

Mayor had been questioned next day. By denying the press an opportunity to report the meeting, the council flouted the right of the public to knowledge of their own affairs. This right is basic to good democratic government; and the citizens of Timaru should not tolerate any infringement. Since his election to the Mayoralty, Mr White has tried in various ways to restrict the reporting of public functions. He should remember that such restrictions strike not only at the newspapers’ freedom to report, but also at the public’s right to know.