THE PRESS IN WAR TIME

Evening Star, Issue 23508, 23 February 1940, Page 8

THE PRESS IN WAR TIME

ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE N.P.A. IMPORTANT TO MAINTAIN FULL NEWS SERVICES NEWSPAPERS HARD HIT, BUT FILLING BIG ROLE [Per United Press, Association.} ROTORUA, February 23. “ Never in the history of our country was it more necessary for the general welfare that the Press of the Dominion should strive to render the highest possible service within its power to give,” said Mr C. W. Earle, president of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of New Zealand, at the annual conference at Rotorua. “ It is not my intention,” Mr Earle continued, “ to swell the very general chorus of complaint regarding the hardships under which business and industrial interests are forced to carry on their various undertakings to-day. “ The newspapers of the Dominion have been seriously affected by the import restrictions, by the shortage of sterling, by increased costs, and by reduced supplies of the raw -materials required for the production of their publications. Their advertising revenue has been reduced, their costs have been increased by the movement of prices and charges overseas, and also within the Dominion, and, overshadowing everything is the uncertainty of future supplies and the tragic consequences of the war. “Yet there was never greater need for the newspapers to maintain and wherever possible expand their services to the people. It is vitally important that the public should he kept fully .and accurately informed through the news services of the Press of the course of events in the momentous happenings overseas and also here in New Zealand. TASK TO AWAKEN THE PEOPLE. “ It is equally important that the Press should strive to stimulate and encourage the whole-hearted co-opera-tion of all sections of our people in the tremendous task which lies ahead. It is to be feared that the magnitude of that task is not yet fully appreciated by the majority of people here, nor the extent of the sacrifices which may be demanded of them before the safety and future security of the Dominion, in common with the rest of the British Empire, is assured. To be enabled to give that service to the community which condi- ■ tions to-day more than ever demand, our newspapers must be assured of a continuance of adequate supplies of newsprint paper, and freedom from harassing restrictions. Already there has been a substantial reduction in the quantity of newsprint coming forward for use in the Dominion. The English paper mills have been compelled by war conditions to discontinue sending supplies overseas,, and this has cut off some 25 per cent, of the regular tonnage arranged for. Our other source of supply, that from Canada, has been ■ reasonably maintained, hut here again there has been automatic reduction in the tonnage available owing to the sterling allocation, based on 1938 cost?, being inadequate to cover increased charges. Under the present allocations of import licenses and sterling permits, importation is cut by 40 per cent. This is a serious matter from the point of view of newspapers maintaining their full news services, and supplying that full publicity on matters of public policy so essential to the defeat of those subversive influences active- in our midst, which rely > for their success on misrepresentation, malicious distortion of facts, and idle rumour.

“ Already the reserve stocks accumulated and maintained at considerable cost arfe in process of being used up, and in spite of economies being practised, tlie position later in the year is likely to give occasion for grave concern. It has always been recognised that in this Dominion, remote as it is from the sources of newsprint supplies, it is essential that reserve stocks on a substantial scale should be carried in order to ensure continuity of the publication of daily newspapers. The risks of transport, strikes, fires, and other possible interferences with regular supplies, have to be safeguarded against in normal times, but it will be readily understood that in times of war, and in a world crisis such as prevails to-day, these risks are immeasurably increased, and the needs for safeguards are correspondingly greater. It is highly desirable, therefore. tliat every possible facility should be provided for ensuring that regular supplies of newsprint*should be maintained, and it cannot be too strongly imppessed on those in authority that every effort should be made to enable these shipments to be brought here as early as possible. This is particularly a case and a period in which delays are dangerous. THE CENSORSHIP. “ It is only right that I should piake some reference to the censorship arising out of the war so far as it relates to the Press of New Zealand. There has been a good deal of criticism directed against the censorship of private correspondence outward from this Dominion to countries overseas. On the facts disclosed, this censorship appears to have been carried to extravagant extremes, which have been condemned as a grave abuse of authority, and an improper interference with free communication by private citizens, and business firms with friends and relatives in other countries. In view of this unfortunate state of affairs, it is pleasing to bo able to record that the local censorship instituted in respect of matter published in newspapers has been conducted with fairness, common sense, and good judgment. From the outset of the war, the Government sought the co-operation of the Press in safeguarding against publication of matter likely to prove prejudicial to the country’s war measures and of use to the enemy. That co-operatiou was freelv given. An Advisory Committee was "appointed to act in conjunction with the Director of Publicity, Mr J. T. Paul, and his assistant, Mr J. H. Hall, and the result has been a satisfactory arrangement, under -which the fullest possible measure of freedom has been given to the newspapers, consistent with the safeguarding of the movements of shipping and military and other measures which it obviously would be undesirable or dangerous to publish. The Director of Publicity and his assistant, fortunately, are trained and experienced journalists, and they have striven, anil with marked success,

to minimise the inconvenience whicli any form of Press censorship must inevitably impose. OFFICERS ELECTED. The following officers were elected President, Mr C. W. Earle, C.M.G. (twentieth year in the office); treasurer. Mr H. P. F. Blundell; auditor Mr E. L. Loader; chairman of section one! Mr C. W. Earle; chairman of section 2, Mr IV. A. Whitlock; chairman of section 3j Mr IV., tT, JVpods,