NO SECRET CONFERENCE

Evening Star, Issue 21073, 9 April 1932, Page 17

NO SECRET CONFERENCE

EDITORS AND MINISTERS A PHASE OF MANY CONSULTATIONS (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, April 8. _ The Labour Opposition made a critical point in the House to-day of the fact that the Government this week called into conference a number of metropolitan newspaper editors to discuss with Ministers the country’s financial position, and the measures proposed to meet the difficulties. Mr Holland, Leader of the Opposition, invited Mr Forbes to mane a statement regarding what he termed “ this secret meeting,” while other Opposition speakers affected to discover some sinister reason for this conference, Mr Howard (Christchurch South) declaring; that the Government had entered into a conspiracy with the newspapers as well as the banks to tear up contracts.

Mr Forbes pointed out in his reply that the Finance Minister had spent months, night and day, considering the serious problems which had to be taokkd. He had conferred with all kinds of interests, and it was reasonable to confer witk the editors. “ The hon. gentleman knows," he continued, “ that if the Government had suggested any arrangement with regard to the newspapers it would be resented by them. The Leader of the Opposition, as a journalist, knows that. No one, the Prime Minister or anyone else, would have the temerity to suggest that they should do anything but what they would consider their duty to the public.” He added that the discussion with the editors was only one phase of_ many consultations, and they obtained no more information than was in the possession of members.