A MAD WORLD

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 72, 26 March 1935, Page 6

A MAD WORLD

TASK FOR A SANE PRESS

A cablegram from Cape Town reported that overseas delegates to the' Imperial Press Conference were now returning to their respective countries. It was some six weeks ago that delegates assembled at Cape Town, and during their first week in conference they were fortunate in the addresses given them by South African Government Ministers. It is reported that the conference was stirred to its depths by what the Minister of-Defence (Mr. O. Pirow) had to say in his address on the defence policy of the Union Government, and was equally impressed with a notable speech by the Minister of the Interior Mr. J. H. Hofmeyr) in which lie reviewed South African affairs.

The Prime Minister (General Hertzog) was among others who referred specially to the part played by the Press in world affairs. They were living, he said, in a mad world at the moment. The elements of chaos were everywhere. From every corner of the world came appeals for guidance and inspiration. The world was practically all ears for such guidance, but there was no response. He could not conceive of any power more competent or potent in taking upon itself the task of giving the'much-needed guidance to , a distraught world , than a sane Press A great task was thus imposed upon the Press of the world It was only the Press, to his mind, reaching every strata of life, which could bring that influence to bear, which would maintain for the world that which had been proved in the past to be great and noble in the life of mankind. In that struggle the Press of the Commonwealth would always be found in the front rank.