PRESS CONFERENCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 February 1935, Page 5

PRESS CONFERENCE

7 empire news supply. [by CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] (Recd. February 9, 10.30 a.m.) , CAPE TOWN, February S. The Press Conference agreed to a resolution proposed by N ° rin /™ Smith, honorary President of the Canadian Press, recommending newspaper publishers of each Dominion to •■ive consideration to the establishment of co-operative news associations, owned and controlled by the newspapers, in the belief that this would lead to an interchange <>l news within the Empiie. Mr Smith's idea is that each Dominion should establish a co-opeia-tive news service ns a unit, and the Dominion interchange of news would automatically follow. Mr Smith visualised a future Empire Press knit by g: eat wireless stations girdling the globe with British news, exchanged by British newspapers, but until each had built up its own co-operative news associations, there could not be anv foundation for the Empire tabric. Mr D. McCay (Australia) said the Australian Press was thoroughly m accord with the desire to better interchange among the Dominions. Mr Geddes (Now Zealand i said a sten of this kind would be strongly suppot ted by New Zealand newspapers. 'lhe Indian and African delegates also supported the scheme. LIBEL LAWS. (Reed. February 9, Noon). CAPE TOWN. February 8. The Press Conference discussed the

Press and libel laws. Sir Herbert Grotrian, K.C. (United Kingdom) said ho considered that judges and juries were prejudiced against the Press in libel actions. They considered they were presented with opportunities to get their own back on the Press. He declared that a positive industry was growing up of shady solicitors, who \<ent through newspapers with a tooth-comb to find minor mistakes, and then approached the parties concerned, suggesting a claim for libel. Many plaintiffs in these actions were persons or straw, and ii the newspapers wen the case, could not get costs. Theie had been recent amendments in English law. the clfect of which would he to check speculative actions. He considered that newspapers should be prepared io tight a bit more instead ot settling cut of Court, as it was becoming a general belief that newspapers would rettle. If any countiy’s libel law wotked oppressively against the Press ruth Press were bring deprived of one of the chief functions na guardians ci morality, therefore they were justified in asking for some reform. 'I ho draiting committee is engaged in preparing a resolution lor the Conre fence. 'lhe delegates spent yesterday sightseeing, and visiting farm homes in ihe Western province. To-night, they attend a reception by Hie GovernorGeneral and Countess Clarendon at Westbrooke, the Governor’s summer home , at Rondebosch, near Cape Town.