PRESS CENSORSHIP

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXII, Issue 266, 9 October 1942, Page 4

PRESS CENSORSHIP

At its half-yearly meeting in Wellington last month the Newspaper Proprietors’, Association expressed “grave anxiety 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.” That was the gravamen of the stalement published this week, making the public aware of the position that has developed. The protest is well justified. The Press has fully co-operated with the autli-

orities in helping to withhold from the enemy news which may be of value to him. There is very good reason for this course and the public well know that national security demands such action. The Press, in fact, has been of further considerable assistance to the authorities by voluntarily refraining from publishing items which they do not deem to be in the national interests. But the newspaper , proprietors point out there has been a steady accumulation of restrictions on news, “not all of which has to do with military and naval security, or information to the enemy,” and “our people are being steadily stripped of the rights of free expression agd criticism.” The former Prime Minister of Australia (Mr Hughes) has clearly pointed to the paramount necessity of keeping a public as well informed as safety permits—primarily through the Press. This is a Government’s imperative duty in time of war and failure to fulfil it to the utmost limits of security must cause concern. “Unwarrantable encroachments” of censorship should be removed and this is a duty to which Parliament should give attention.