BIG STICK FOR PRESS

Evening Star, Issue 22798, 5 November 1937, Page 8

BIG STICK FOR PRESS

TYRANNOUS LEGISLATION IN PROSPECT SIGNED ARTICLES OH POLITICS NO ANONYMOUS CORRESPONDENCE [From Oor Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, November 5. Legislative action against the newspapers of the Dominion is contemplated by the Government. It will be in the direction of requiring papers to disclose the identities of those responsible for certain classes of written matter appearing in their columns. Those who supply articles and reports dealing with political subjects will be obliged to sign their contributions. This proposal will apply only to political reporters and commentators, although during the election campaign all reported speeches will have to be signed by the persons reporting them. Another object of the proposed Bill Is to prevent the publication of anenymous correspondence and interviews dealing with questions of a political nature.

During the present session a good deal has been heard from the Government side of the House about the alleged unfair treatment accorded the Government and Government members y the newspapers, and the proposed legislation, which is _ intended to operate from the beginning of the comng year, is the outcome of representations made by members of the Government party for disciplinary action as far as the newspapers are concerned.