MINISTRY OF INFORMATION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 153, 31 May 1941, Page 4

MINISTRY OF INFORMATION

ADVOCATED BY 11.5. A. (Press Assn.) WELLINGTON. May JJO. Tlie setting up of a Ministry of Infornmtion in New Zealand was suggosted in a resolution adopted by the New Zealand Upturned Soldiers’ Association to-day, on the recommendation of the Committee on aliens and subversive propaganda. The resolution was: “That this Dominion Council takes a serious viev* of the Statement made by the ncting-Prime Minister (Hon. W. Nash) at the opening of this annual general meeting when lie said that not live per cent, of ihc people of New Zealand realised what was at stake in the present war, and requests the Government to set up forthwith a Ministry of Information to inform the people of New Zealand fin all matters pertaining to New Zealand’s obligations in this struggle and also to help in creating that spirit which is essential to a whole-hearted effort on the part of all to win the war.” Mr W. D. Russell (Christchurch) said that New Zealand had lacked effective leadership in the war effort. He was not criticising the Government iit that respect, but the country’s obligations to tho Motherland had not been properly put to the people. Even a Ministry of Information might not do this job as well as it was needed, but it would receive all the necessary information and be able to co-ordinate it and make it know*, to the people,’