THE CENSORSHIP

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXII, Issue 264, 7 October 1942, Page 4

THE CENSORSHIP

many prohibitions EFFECT ON THE PRESS “Grave anxiety was expressed at the half-yearly meeting of the New Zealand Newspaper Propnetors’ Association in Wellington at the rapid extension in New Zealand of censorship restrictions upon the publication of facts and

comment which have no relation

to the fundamental purpose of censorship, the security of our naval, air, and military forces, says a statement issued by the New Zealand Newspaper Propri-

ctors’ Association. “All regulations designed to ensure the safety of these forces have been accepted L)v newspapers in a spirit of willing cooperation but the experience of Ihreo years of war has shown that the free expression of public opinion is stifled by probations which appear to be either dictated by political expediency, or issued as a cloak for remediable wcakncssos_ in the Services and departments It is impossible to quote specific instances of these prohibitions, since all are marked confidential and therefore not publishable, and also since publication of details of these instructions is in itself a breach of the censorship. It is. however, the unanimous opinion of the N.P.A. that the public should be made aware of the general effect of the maze of instructions, many of which have no relation to the security of the nation. “Censorship is necessary in war time. It is concerned with withholding from the enemv any facts that may bo of use to his conduct of the war, or serve to hearten his neoplo in the belief that the morale of the nations against whom they are waging hostilities is waning. But censorship can accomplish no greater disservice than to stifle criticism that has as its object an intensification of the war effort and the awakening of the public to the dangers that confront the nation. “PEOPLE OUGHT TO BE TOLD.’ “The people ought to be (old all they can be told about what is being done to equip the nation for the trials confronting it. Onlv by the fullest possible knowledge and the freest criticism of all phase’s of the war, ran we hope to achieve that combination of effort that will mean that New Zealand is actually doing its best. This means I hat there should be free criticism of management of the war in all aspects of organisation, admimstration, and training of the Armed Forces, and of any failure of those not in the forces to render appropriate service.

“Censorship in Now Zealand has meant a steady accumulation of news of such matters as sabotage of production, shortcomings in the control of the necessaries of life, administrative mistakes, extravagances that even war cannot condone, and ia number of minor but by no means unimportant matters that have, their intimate bearing on the war. “Not all of these have to do with military and naval security or information to” the enemy. Our people are being steadily stripped of the rights of free expression and criticism. Unless this development is corrected, criticism of weaknesses and ineptitude in public policy and administration will Ire stifled. Rt. Hon. W. M. Hughes (Prime Minister of Australia in the last- war), realising this steady infiltration of totalitarian ideas, had this to say recently:

“Victory in this people’s war depends upon the public being kept as well informed as safety permits through normal channels of publicity—primarily in the Press. The maintenance of a wollinformed public opinion must depend on the continuance of a free Press, which is not subject to coercion in its publication of facts.’ . “The N.P.A. was unanimously of the opinion that unwarrantable encroachments of c-ensoiship arc protecting inefficiency and hampering the war effort. The newspapers with the tradition of freedom inherited from our peoplo require the support of all, and especially of those who" have sons and husbands engaged in a war of freedom, in combating a danger that threatens us in our own country. . FOUR RECOMMENDATIONS.

“The Newspaper Proprietors’ Association summarises its opinions in the following recommendations: “(1) That the reason for censorship is security, and thero must, be vigilance to guard against its becoming a cloak foi remediable political or service weaknesses.

“(2) That public morale is most endangered if there is a suspicion that facts are being concealed. Sound morale can only be built up by telling the public the "truth and enlisting their co-oper-ation.

“(3) That instead of censoring news regarding commodity shortages, industrial disputes, and so on, the policy should be to inform the public fully, thereby creating a strong popular opinion for good social citizenship, co-operation, and constructive ideas.

“(4) That in instructions to newspapers general prohibitions be discontinued and a specific purpose indicated. Genera! prohibitions extend the scope of censorship front a particular incident, and maintain the prohibition after the need for it has passed.