FREEDOMS IN N.Z.

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30100, 6 April 1963, Page 3

FREEDOMS IN N.Z.

Editor Gives ? His Views ? Today there was a responsibility for the free press to tell the meaning of the news, said the chairman of the press freedom committee of the New Zealand section of the Commonwealth Press Union (Mr G. Burns) .on Thursday night One of the urgent subjects facing the press of New Zealand was that of getting and retaining the men and women to do the increasingly demanding job of interpreting the news „ responsibly and accurately. Mr Bums, who is also editor ’ of the “Christchurch Star.” ’ was speaking to the Christchurch Club of Printing * House Craftsmen on the ’ subject of "Freedom of the Press and the Individual.” "Getting and keeping these , journalists was not just a matter of money,” said Mr Burns. Salaries in New Zea- ' land, when related to living costs, were good, and would get better. The major problem was that of educating the * young journalist. Competition for brilliant young men and ■ women in New Zealand was % severe. The older profes- , sions held many attractions, ‘ and the sense of security as- ( sociated with a high-calibre Public Service attracted • many good brains. . Mr Burns said he believed that the press had a wider > responsibility than ever be- • fore. “Man can’t combat the dangers that face him unless ’• he has accurate information,” ’ said Mr Burns. The day is past when mere news was sufficient: today he must be told the meaning of the ' news.” Perhaps the greatest safeguard to freedom in New ' Zealand was the correspond- . ence columns of the news- , papers, he said. In most . centres letters to the editor , were numerous and many t were highly critical of the ? editorial attitude. Yet they were published. The very < fact of their publication con- «. tinued to convince the » ordinary citizen that his t newspaper was free. i "We in New Zealand are ’ zealous in our defence of ) freedom of the press, not because of the press alone, but because we believe that the essence of democracy lies in the right of the individual to speak, to write, and to argue freely according to his conscience,” said Mr Burns.