Newspaper Freedom Threatened

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 42, 19 February 1938, Page 7

Newspaper Freedom Threatened

Attacks by Politicians CONCERN OF WHOLE COMMUNITY

Per Press Association. ROTORUA, Last Night. In the course of his presidential address to the New Zealand Newspaper Proprietors* Association to-night, Mr. C. W. Earle made reference to the attacks made from time to time on the Press by members of the Government party. These attacks, Mr. Earle said, were no doubt designed to undermine 'the influence of the Press and also, perhaps, in the hope to intimidate it. When the present political party unexpectedly came into office with its policy of socialisation, he, as president of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association, had made it perfectly clear that, whatever the views of the individual newspapers might be, the new Government would be afforded the fullest possible publicity through the Press of the Dominion for its political views and its policy measures. This had always been the practice of the New Zealand Press in the past, and that practice would be continued. Readers of daily newspapers would know whether or not that declaration made on behalf of the Press in 1936 had been honoured. He had not the slightest hesitation in saying that the present political party in office had received wider and more generous publicity in the news columns of the Press for its political views and policy measures than had been accorded any previous Government in the history of New Zealand.

This publicity had been extended the Government, not because of any belief or disbelief in its political philosophy, but because the issues at stake were matters of interest and concern to the general public, and it was the duty of the Press as the purveyor of news to keep the public fully informed of the course of events. In this respect he would like to stress the fact that any attempt to undermine and weaken the newspaper Press of the Dominion must, if successful, inevitably result in lowering the standard of service which the Press is able to render the people through the extent and value of its news-gathering organisations within the Dominion itself and in countries overseas.

To-day newspapers were beset with many difficulties and, perhaps, some dangers. They were threatened by rival forms of publicity sponsored by the Government of the day, they were hampered by restrictive legislation affecting their enterprise and working conditions, rising costs in wages, materals, transport and news services imposed an increased drain on their resources and they had hanging over them the threat of a curtailment of free and unfettered expression of opinion through their columns, which in the past had been regarded as an unalienable right in liberty-loving British communities. It was not only desirable, but, he thought, essential that the public, which looked to the newspapers for a daily record of news affecting their interests and welfare, should be made aware of these facts. The standard of the Press in.New Zealand, admittedly, was high. It was in the public interest that that standard should not be lowered. Attacks on the Press designed erot sticr Attacks on the Press designed to restrict its liberty and weaken its capacity to render the fullest possible service, therefore, were not merely the concern of the newspaprs immediately affected, they were the concern of every member of the community. OFFICERS ELECTED Per Press Association. ROTORUA, Last Night. At the annual meting of the Newspaper Proprietors* Association of New Zealand, held at Rotorua this evening, the following officers were elected for the ensuing year:—President, Mr. C. W. Earle, C.M.G.; general committee— Messrs. R. D. Horton, F. A. Clarke, W. Easton, W. J. Blundell, C. W. Hodge, R. H. Billens, H. W. Crawford; advertising committee—Messrs E. A. Blundell, A. G. Gardiner, F. H.Walls, W. Easton, A. Muir, W. J. Woods (H. E. Bell and F. W. Pettard, associate members) ; labour committee—Messrs. J. M. Hardcastle, W. Easton, E .A. Blundell, H. E. Bell, R. H. Billens, L. A. Ablett (C. S. Smith and P. R. Scoble, associate members); paper committee—Sir Cecil Leys, Sir Henry Horton, Messrs. W. J. Blundell, J. Montgomery, J. H. Nash, C. W. Vennell; Parliamentary committee—Sir Cecil Leys, Messrs. W. J. Blundell, E. A. Blundell, C. S. Smith, W. A. Whitlock, R. P. Furness; history and bibliography of the New Zealand press committee—Messrs. C. W. Earle, J. M. Hardcastle, F. A. Clarke, A. G. Henderson, D. P. C. Saxton; treasurer, Mr. W. J. Blundell; auditor, Mr. W. L. Page; secretary, Mr. L. J Berry; chairman section 2, Mr. C. W. Hodge; chairman sections 3 and 4, Mr. H. W. Crawford.