POWER FOR AMITY

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 50, 28 February 1934, Page 10

POWER FOR AMITY

THE PRESS AND PEACE

A JOURNALIST LEADER

DR. WALTER WILLIAMS

"If wo can disarm the typewriters of the world we will go a long long way towards securing international peace," said Dr. Walter Williams, of U.S.A., honorary president of the World's Press Congress, at a. reception given to him and Mrs. Williams by the Newspaper Proprietors' Association and members of the New Zealand branch of the Empire Press Union at tho Hotel St. Gcorgo yesterday afternoon. Dr. Williams said that if newspaper men would only write" as journalists what they would say as gentlemen a much better international spirit would be created.

Dr. and Mrs. Williams were welcomed by the president of the Newspaper Proprietors' Association, Mr. C. W. Earle, who said that Dr. Williams was not only president of tho University of Missouri, but also Dean of Journal-, ism in that university and professor of the history and principles of journalism. He was prominent not only in American journalism, but was also an outstanding figure in international journalism. He had done more than any other man to bring about an understanding between the journalists of the world, and had conceived tho ideal of organising the Press of the world in-tho interests of humanity. The task called for a great man with big ideas and high ideals, a man with an international outlook, one of wide and s}-mpathetic understanding of the weaknesses of human nature, and a man possessed of a real spirit of service. Dr. Williams was that man. Ho possessed the high courage and fighting spirit of the pioneer adventurers of the past, and was stimulated by the exalted idealism and zeal of the preacher of a new doctrine designed to promote international ■amity through tho "Press of tho world. Dr. Williams had always been a friend to New Zealand and New Zcalanders, and had largely been responsible for a New ■ Zealander, Mr. Robert Bell, of Christchurch, being elected president of the World's Press Congress in 1926. Mr. Earle said he hoped that Dr. and Mrs. Williams would have a pleasant time in the Dominion. "OLYMPIAN HEIGHTS." The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes) expressed pleasure at being able to join \yith Mr. Earle in extending a welcome to Dr. and Mrs. Williams. In regard to its natural beauties New Zealand would take second place to no other country in the world, although it might not measure up to some of the larger countries from a commercial viewpoint. Ho had heard that Dr. Williams intended writing a book on his tour, and it was to be hoped that New Zealand would receive some mention, for it was always interesting to be soon as through^tho eyes of others. The Prime Minister said that he had ii great respect for tho Press, and, amidst laughter, he referred to editors as N "supermen who look down from their Olympian heights upon us pygmies to point out; gently or otherwise, what a mess we are making of things. "Mr. Forbes said that he also had a great respect for reporters, and added that it often happened that he was asked by them whether a certain rumour*Tvas true. Frequently he did1 not wish to answer yes or no, but it was generally hard- to keep up brio's wicket against their bowling, which sometimes verged on body-line. (Laughter.) Functions such as the reception to Dr. and Mrs. Williams showed that Pressmen, after all, had a human side, said Mr. Forbes with a smile.

Mr. Forbes wished the guests a pleasant stay in the Dominion.

POWER OF THE PRESS,

Speaking of the power of tho Press l)i. Williams said that statements made in a newspaper had repercussions over a much wider area than that covered by the particular newspaper in which they wore published. Ho mentioned the well-known quotation: "Tho pen is mighter than the sword," and said the quotation camo with better grace when the whole of it was used:— *■

Cn the hands of men who arc cntirclv

great The pen is mightier than the sword,

The English-speaking countries, he continued, were almost the last stronghold of freedom of speech and of an unfettered Press. In order to justify its freedom, however, tho Press must maintain a fitting standard.' All newspaper men should strive to develop a courageous, alert, and highly-.idealiscd Press. The soul of journalism,. as of individuals, had the choice of taking tho highway or tho lowway, and it was to he hoped that newspapers throughout the world would strive to keep in the highway. SUFFRAGE AND SUFFERANCE. Dr. "Williams replied in humorous vein to tho remarks made by the Prime Minister, saying that experience had taught him that prime ministers should be watched very closely whether in office or out .of it. Prime ministers came and wont^ though sometimes not as quickly as'some people might wish, but here, as elsewhere, they held ofiico by the suffrages of the people and mayhe the sufferance of the Press. (Applause and laughter.) Remarking that he had come 20,000 miles to sec Mr. Robert Bell and' to discuss with him certain matters in connection with the Press, the speaker referred to ths expansive scope of journalism in New Zealand, describing it us greater than outside people imagined. Dr. Williams' concluded by referring again to the ideals of journalism and the necessity for establishing a spirit of good will among tho journalists of all nations. In this way a bettor understanding among tho nations could be brought about, and with that accomplished they could say with Browning- ' We.can all face the grent unknown .Uurc with a cheer.'] Ho thanked sincerely for Mrs. Williams and himself all present for their wqlcome and kindness.