COMMENT FROM N.Z.P.A. EDITOR

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30900, 5 November 1965, Page 3

COMMENT FROM N.Z.P.A. EDITOR

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, November 4. “Mr Shadbolt’s version of how the New Zealand Press Association works shows that he is ill-informed on the matter,” said the association’s managing editor, Mr H. L. Verry. in a statement today commenting on Mr Shadbolt’s article.

“Mr Shadbolt makes several errors of fact The most serious of these is when he refers to our association as being ‘serviced solely by Reuters.’

“This most misleading statement should not go unchallenged.

“As was stated several times during public discussion of the News Media Bill, our news agency, which is a co-opera-tive, non-profit one, draws its news from diverse sources for the benefit of its members and of the reading public,” said Mr Verry. “Our main sources are Reuters, the Associated Press, United Press International, Australian Associated Press, “The Times,” London, and the “New York Times.” “Through these primary sources we also derive news from many other news agencies, including Tass, the Press Trust of India, the New China News Agency, the Indonesian agency, Antara, and many others. London Staff

“We believe that the diversity of our news sources, and the skill, experience and communications network of the major agencies we draw upon, are the best assurances New Zealanders can have of an accurate, objective and fast report of world news on a day-to-day basis.” Mr Verry said Mr Shadbolt claimed the N.Z.P.A. had no full-time correspondent in London.

In fact, it had maintained two men in London for many years past. It had part-time correspondents of its own in the United States, Canada and elsewhere supplementing the very full flow of news each day from the major agencies.

Another absurdity of Mr Shadbolt’s was to say that coverage of Australian news from a New Zealand angle “comes through Reuter men for whom this country is a part-time concern.” Sydney Reports

The New Zealand Press Association had maintained its own full-time staff representation in Australia for many years.

Each week many columns of Australian news, specially written for the N.Z.P.A. by its staff correspondent in Sydney, were published in New Zealand papers, sometimes under the correspondent’s by-line. “That we intended to maintain this system is indicated by the fact that we sent a new correspondent to Sydney only last week to replace a man who will shortly return to Wellington,” Mr Verry added.