GOVT. AND PRESS

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 May 1938, Page 7

GOVT. AND PRESS

MR. WEBB’S COMPLAINT "CONCESSIONS” ENDANGERED [per press association.] CHRISTCHURCH. May 18. Newspapers and the Press Association received another broadside of Government thunder, last night. This time, the barrage was fired by the Minister of Mines (Mr. Webb), when he addressed .a meeting at St. An-, drew’s, telegraphs the “Star-Sun” reporter. Mr. Webb said that he and all other Ministers fully supported the statements made by Mr. Nash, when he referred to the attitude of the newspapers in the course of his broadcast address on Monday night. A section of the metropolitan newspapers was definitely hostile to the Government, said Mr. Webb. Though they made frequent references to the amount, of space devoted to reporting the speeches and activities of Government members, the newspapers could not disguise the fact that they were prepared to go to any lengths to conceal the true facts from the public. "All along the Government has asked for nothing more than fair play. It does not want any more from its opponents than it is prepared to concede to them.” declared Mr. Webb. . “It is satisfied, it has not received fair play, and that it cannot expect fair play in future. If the newspapers are seeking open warfare. they can have it. If they persist in their present attitude of telling only half the story, then the Government will take other means of making its policy known. The concession to the newspapers in reduced telegraph rates cost the country over £200.000 last year. Unless a. fair sense of proportion is interpreted in the production of newspapers from day to day, those concessions may be revised.” Mr. Webb added it was unfair tactics •and definite evidence of hostility on the part of newspapers to take advantage of the reduced telegraph charges to spread propaganda for a political party whose policy suited them, and refuse the same’ publicity to their opponents. Emphasising’ his threat that the Government was in Mie mood to review the telegraph concessions, Mr. AV ebb said that Mr. Nash in his speech at the Hutt had expressed correctly the feeling of Cabinet. He was also of the opinion that the Government would have support. The concensus of opinion was that the newspapers in the metropolitan centres, by adhering, to the policy of shielding the motives ot the group of capitalists, had divorced themselves from public sympathy. Current editorial comment was not a reflection of the political opinion of the mass of the people. The Dominion needed roads, bridges and railways, as well as houses for its workers, and it l ad a Government which was striving to give it those facilities, which were the foundation of progress. Quite reasonably it could expect, a measure ol support, from the Press, but instead of support, it had encountered opposition. Mr Webb made a charge that discrimination had been shown against the Government, in news columns ot soveral newspapers. He added that recently when introducing anew candidate to the electors in Pahiatua and Dannevirke. he had been received enthusiastically by overcrowded meetings. but no notice was taken ot this 'bv the Press Association. Similarly» not a line had- appeared outside Rotorua. concerning a meeting conducted in that town by Mr. Semple last Wednesday. Mr. Semple's audience overcrowded the hall, and loud speakers were necessary to convey Mr Semple words to the overflow outside. On the other hand, when a Minister or responsible member of the Government made an accidental slip his words were snapped up and telegraphed throughout the country. "The Government only want, tic Press to plav the game and give the proje °ll tf>» Mr. Webb eoneluded.

JOURNALISTS’ PROTEST. WELLINGTON, May 17. Strong exception to remarks made hv'the Minister of Finance, in his pubHialwZal Lower Unit on Monday night, was taken at a meeting of. the literary staff of ‘’The Dominion, tollon. W. Nash stated that the staff of “The Dominion” “are instructed to write letters to the editor, condemning the Government.” , The meeting decided, unanimoi. . to forward the folk-wing Minister of Finance: Sn.—At <meet in" of the literary statt ot The Do minion” to-night, strong exception was taken to the following statement made bv vou in the course of your addiess at Lower Hutt on Monday: The staff of “The Dominion" are instructed to write letters to the editor condemning the Government.’ The allegation is absolutely untrue. No member of this staff has ever been instructed by the Editor or the management. tQ write letters to the Editor on any subject whatever, much less on politics. Me take your remarks and their implications "as a totally unwarranted reflection on the integrity of working journalists. Our meeting unanimously recorded an emphatic protest. As your remarks were made publicly, we, the undersigned, were instructed, by the meeting, to hand a copy of this lettei to the press. Since we can,.. only assume that you were misinformed on a question of fact, we hope that you will take an early opportunity publicly to withdraw your statement.” The letter was signed by three senior members on behalf oi the meeting.