Press Council welcomed

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32998, 18 August 1972, Page 8

Press Council welcomed

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, August 17. The Prime Minister (Mr Marshall) and the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Kirk) today both welcomed the formation of the New Zealand Press Council.

Mr Kirk described it as a welcome step forward, while Mr Marshall said it was a move designed to preserve the freedom of the press and at the same time to protect citizens, especially those in public positions, from any abuse of that freedom.

“The fact that publishers and journalists have taken this step voluntarily is especially commendable,” Mr Marshall said in a statement. “The daily press of this country sets a high standard, which is worthy of general adoption. The objective of the Newspaper Publishers’ Association and the Journalists’ Association is to discourage unfair journalistic practices. The Press Council will not have any powers of enforcement, and a newspaper may defy it. The council will rely, however, on the persuasive power of criticism and exposure of bad practices, and I believe that it can do so with some confidence. “As with the office of Ombudsman, the success of the council will depend on

the quality, impartiality and fairness of its decisions. The British Press Council has provided the model for the New Zealand counterpart, and it has had considerable success in exercising a restraining influence on the British press. “Considering the standing and experience of the men nominated to the New Zealand council, I have no doubt that the public interest will be well served,” the Prime Minister said.