PRESS REPORTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 27, 1 February 1901, Page 2

PRESS REPORTS.

DISCUSSED AT HARBOR BOARD,

At the meeting of the Harbor Board yesterday Mr Clark said lie noticed that newspaper reports of the meetings wero one-sided and not given very cloarly. He would not refer to the subject, only that at the previous meeting a point had come up as to what had taken place at a certain meeting. For information on the point, the Secretary had turned up the newspaper reports, and lie (Mr Clark) then found that the Secretary made a file of these reports.

Tho Chairman : Ho simply takes charge of them. Mr Clark : What I mean is that if those reports arc to be filed and kept as a record wo should be careful that they arc correct. [The Chairman: True.] 1 have many times noticed that there is a considerable amount left out of these reports. That being so, wc should cither discontinue filing these reports or else [see that they aro more correct. I have noticed that some papers take up one policy. This paper we file is the same as a great many others—it has advocated one policy all through the piece; it lias supported that policy, and practically ignored anything against it. I do'not blame the paper for that—it is their business, but if wo aro going to file anything for reference wc should sec that they arc accurate reports of the meeting. Mr Sicvwright: What paper do you refer to ?

Mr Clark : The Herald ; I find the reports aro filed for reference. Mr Sicvwright: I have never heard anything of it. The Secretary: I keep them for reference.

.Mr Clark: And at last meeting we wanted a record of what had taken place The Secretary: Ido not write the minutes out at that length. Mr Clark : The reports were referred to here in the Board. I think if they aro to be used as a reference we should sec that they are fair. Mr Sicvwright: True.

Tho Chairman said that in the case referred to it was to show what had taken place twelve’months previously. Mr Clark: What I say is that theso reports arc not correct as regards both sides, and should not be referred to here.

Mr Sicvwright: Of course the minutes arc the only binding record; what is givon in the newspapers is supplementary of anything else. I should not rely on tho newspaper reports to give everything. Mr Macfarlano: I have been here and heard remarks made by Mr Clark that have been entiroly omitted from the newspaper report. I think that bears out the point as to the inaccuracy of the reports filed—the onty thing ho said on a certain subject was carefully omitted. Mr Clark: That has been done repeatedly. I do not care whether they omit what I say, but if the newspaper reports aro to be kept as records and referred to here, they should he full and fair reports. The Chairman: True.

Mr Clark: What I want is that they should not be filed unless they arc more accurate than previously. The Chairman said that the secretary had only kept the reports for his own information.

Mr Clark: They should not ho kept unless they arc authoritative reports. Mr Sievwright: The secretary has no authority to file them.

Mr Cooper : I think wc will find it will bo all right now that wc have got the Gisborne Times.

The Chairman said that they could not expect to have full reports unless they paid specially to get them. Then they could rely on gotting them accurately. Mr Clark : What I say is, do not have them unless they arc accurate. Mr Sievwright said they should not he kept as a record unless the Board author, iscd it. They all knew that newspapers could not report every word said; they could not give the space for it. The Chairman: That is so, but if they report what Jones says they should report what Smith says. Mr Sievwright: Tho reporters will no doubt take a note of it now.

Mr Cooper: I quito concur in what Mr Clark says. I have noticed that on several occasions there has been no mention of matters to which I have drawn attention. The subject then dropped.