Press Accused Of Lack Of Concern For Swimmer

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30171, 1 July 1963, Page 12

Press Accused Of Lack Of Concern For Swimmer

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, June 30.

The press had shown no concern for Barry Devenport during his attempt on Cook Strait last year, Mr K. W Mitchell claimed at the Wellington District Surf Lifesaving Association’s annual meeting today. “They didn’t care whether Barry made it or not —all they wanted was the news,” he said “At one stage our pilot threatened to ram a press launch if it didn’t get out of the way.

“An ther incident occurred when an oar from a press photographer’s boat almost hit the swimmer on the head as the photographer tried to get a close-up shot.”

The association was discussing a report by Mr C. R Mentiplay, its publicity officer, in which it was stated that the “ignorance and insularity” of Devenport’s club, Worser Bay, “just about wrecked what press coverage we have in Wellington.” Mr Mitchell denied Wellington surf clubs were critical of the secrecy surrounding the swim.

Mr Mentiplay said he did not write his report with the intention of seeing it in the newspapers before it had been adopted by the annual meeting. “Devenport’s swim was used to illustrate that something urgent needs to be done as far as publicity is concerned,” he said. “I am publicity officer, and the first I heard of the attempt was over the radio news.”

Mr Mentiplay apologised to the two clubs mentioned in his report, saying he had singled them out to drive home to other clubs the great need for publicity. He then moved that the section of his report dealing with Worser Bay and Paekakariki clubs be replaced with a more general outline of publicity ideas.

Pedestrian Injured.— When he was hit by a car in Cathedral square, near the Tivoli Theatre, about 1 a m. on Saturday, Archibald Butterworth, aged 82, suffered abragions and shock. He was admitted to the Princess Margaret Hospital.