THE JOURNALISTS AND THE FEDERATION.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 72, 26 July 1912, Page 3

THE JOURNALISTS AND THE FEDERATION.

Nmv Zealand Institute of Journalists—Wellington Branch. Wellington, June 17, 1912. The Secretary, N.Z. Federation of Labor.

Dear Sir, —The attention of the committee of tire N.Z. Institute of Journalists has biyri drawn to certain sta-fce-menits made by speakers at public meetings held under the auspices of the. Fedvratiu.ii of Labor, at the Opera House on Sunday, May 26, and Sunday, June 2.

Typical expressions were tho reference to reporters as "pimps and bloodhounds for the capitalistic press," and the statement.. "Editors are not paid for telling the t.rutJi. If they were, they would not earn enough to buy a bed-bug a sandwich." Reporters present wore further subjected to ridicule by being spi-rially referred to from the platform and curtly ordered to "Take that down." When ihey maintained an impartial attitude and refused to vote, for or against a resolution put to the meH-tiiigv tliey were, jeered at.

.■Such treatment of men who were present merely- in their jofiii'i'a'l capacity i.s con'sidnred by my 'committee .tv be both unwarranted and unfair.

1 have b"en instructed to ask yon whether the statements and conduct referred to had the sanction of your organisation : or received its endorse-' ment.—Yours laitlil'ully, J. It- Smith, lion. m*\, care •N.Z. Times," Wellington.