Newspaper defends itself

Press, 11 June 1987, Page 24

Newspaper defends itself

PA New Plymouth The newspaper which warned of a possible A.I.D.S. outbreak in Taranaki defended itself on Tuesday against what it said were "impassioned protests and claims of scaremongering” made by Health Department and A.I.D.S. Foundation officials. The “Taranaki Herald” reported last week that an A.I.D.S. sufferer might knowingly have had sex with a number of women in New Plymouth. The "Herald” said in an

editorial oq Tuesday that it made no apology for publishing the article. “It was certainly based on rumour, but widely canvassed rumour. Officials who should have been able to supply accurate information were given the opportunity to do so. . “The fact no-one was prepared to be specific and accurate but appeared to take the line that such matters were best swept under the carpet was in itself a point worth publishing.”

The “Herald” said it had always claimed the public were entitled, to the best possible information when a health problem threatened society. “The attitude , of the Health Department — ‘We don’t keep regional figures’ — and the Minister, that making notification compulsory will not help fight the spread of A.1.D.5., is a faint-hearted duck for cover in ihe face of clearly inadequate efforts to identify and'keep checks on potential . carriers,” the “Herald" said.