“Live Lines” Discusses Leakages To Press

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30108, 17 April 1963, Page 8

“Live Lines” Discusses Leakages To Press

The recent publication by daily newspapers of the names of the three persons it was claimed could be expected to be appointed by the Government to the Electricity Advisory Council is “one of the worst leakages of information to the press within recent years,’’ according to “Live Lines,’’ the official journal of the Electrical Supply Authorities’ Association of New Zealand. Publication of this “leakage’ ’ occurred in spite of a statement by the Minister of Electricity (Mr Goosman)

that he had not yet approached anyone about such an appointment. says “Live Lines.”

“Recent publicity in the United States about the Kennedy Administration and charges of ’controlled leakages’ apparently have a counterpart in New Zealand,” says “Live Lines.” “There seems to be more than a suggestion that this information was made available from high places. “This sort of thing must be regretted, particularly because it places under suspicion everyone who could be expected to be aware of such confidential information, “In point of fact, newspapermen, by their closeness to persons who are news, or who make news, become singularly adept at ‘intelligent anticipation,’ to the point where there is difficulty in drawing the line of demarcation between anticipation, guess work, or handouts. “This showed again the power of the press and the ever-constant need for high ethical standards,” says “Live Lines.” “It also brought to mind the docility with which Parliament agreed to the Public Bodies Meetings Act being placed on the Statute Book. “One cannot' help wondering whether the Government, on reflection, has not second thoughts about the need for the introduction of such a measure,” it says. "This association feels that the industry was already covered in the existing legislation, and that the new procedure is cumbersome and, in the majority of cases, was uncalled far.”

Fined For Drunkenness.— Charged with being drunk and disorderly in London street, Lyttelton, on April 15, Ivan Frederick Allan, a workman, aged 38, pleaded Hot guilty when he appeared before Mr L. J. Shuker and Captain C. C. Gass, justices of the peace, in the Magistrate’s Court, Lyttelton, yesterday. He was fined £l.