Liberty of Press Must be Defended

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 41, 18 February 1938, Page 8

Liberty of Press Must be Defended

EMPIRE PRESS UNION MEETING Per Press Association. ROTORUA, Feb. 17. The annual meeting of the New Zealand section of the Empire Press Union was held at Rotorua to-day. In moving the adoption of the annual report, the chairman, Sir Henry Horton, said that the year just closed had been a difficult one for newspapers in the Dominion as increased Wages, shorter hours and higher prices for newsprint and other supplies had added greatly to the cost of production. He continued: “Not only have the difficulties of New Zealand papers to-day been commercial ores, but publishers have had many threats made by our political leaders against their liberties. It has been suggested that all political articles should be signed and other restrictions introduced. However, I believe, New Zealand people are proud of their press and I am sure they will raise their voices with no uncertain sound if any attacks are made on its liberties. The objects of these attacks have only one purpose and that is to reduce our influence and for these reasons it behoves us to be watchful and to resist to the uttermost all attacks whenever they are attempted.” Sir Henry said the committee had decided to recommend publication of a monthly news letter by the New Zealand section in the same manner as was done by Canadian, Australian and other overseas sections. At the 193 S annual conference of the Empire Press Union in London, New Zealand will be represented by Mr. W. J. Blundell and another delegate who will be appointed subsequently. Appealing for inc: eased membership in the New Zealand section Sir Henry Horton said tho Empire Press Union was a very active body and that it was doing much good in looking after the interests of our Empire newspapers, and this, surely, was the time when it was desirable to be united for the defence of those liberties that had been so suddenly snatched away from the press in many foreign countries. OFFICERS ELECTED ROTORUA, Last Night, At the annual meting of the New Zealand section of the Empire Press Union tho following officers were elected:—Chairman, Sir Henry Horton; committee —Sir Cecil Leys, Messrs. C. W.Earle, P. Selig, C. Stanley Smith, R. J. Gilmour, L. C. Young, R. P. Furness, W. J. Blundell, T. M. Geddis, W. Easton; honorary secretary, Mr. R. D. Horton; honorary auditor, Mr. D. A. Taylor.