The Press and Politics

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7413, 22 December 1930, Page 6

The Press and Politics

Amid the controversy over the fiscal policy and the leadership of the Conservative Party in Britain there has been a great deal of what the Observer characteristically describes as “fatuous talk” about attempted press dictation to political parties. “That lethargy, stagnation, convention are the deadly dangers to the future of Britain and the Empire is the deep feeling of ordinary people. They sec that Lord Bcaverbrook and Lord Rothermere are stirring things up. That is what they desire above all,” says the Observer. “The country likes to see Sir Oswald Mosley stirring things up on the Labour side, and Mr. Lloyd George stirring them up on the Liberal side . . . No politician or party ever suggests that press-influence is illegitimate when they are flattered, soothed, and supported by it. To an extent that would amaze ordinary people, if they knew, the favours of the press are entreated and forgotten. Only when journalism is an independent and parallel power, as it always ought to be, or a counter-power, as its duty in times like these may compel it to be, do we hear of the inordinate pretensions of the press in politics. Palmerston, Disraeli, Gladstone, Chamberlain, knew how to manage their relations with journalism, and knew that it had no public value when subservient or echoing. Mr. Baldwin, better advised, might have managed as'well.”