Publicity Director Replies To Magistrate

Northern Advocate, 24 August 1943, Page 3

Publicity Director Replies To Magistrate

|(P.A.) WELLINGTON, This Day.] i Explaining that the Director of Publicity; ihad no authority under the regulations) 'either to prosecute or admonish. Mr. J. T.i IPaul. Director of Publicity, replied to] [observations made last Friday by Mr. J.j |H. Luxford, S.M.. when two cases of j !breach of the Censorship and Publicity: Regulations were before the Court. The defendants had written a letter in-! tended to be sent out of New Zealand, [ [which had been intercepted by the censor.) 'Each offender was convicted and dis-j [charged. Mr. Luxford is reported to! [have said: “It puzzles we why the Director; [of Publicity, or whoever the authority is.) 'brings such venial charges as we have had! This morning.” He added that instead of; [bringing “such highly technical and venial! leases as we have been getting in this) court, it seems to me that the Director; should do the job himself by admonition.) instead of prosecuting." Director’s Publicity Mr. Paul said that he was rather sur-, prised that the magistrate should have; made any reference to the Director ofi Publicity in this matter. “The regu- i iatiens." he said, "make it. perfectly clear; that the Director of Publicity has nothing whatever to do with tne mails. Obviously,; therefore, he could not have any knowledge cf what is contained in letters, and has no authority lo prosecute, or alternatively, as Mr. Luxford suggests, to admonish offenders whose correspondence has been intercepted by the censor. “I confess to a feeling of surprise that Mr. Luxford should have regarded move-; merits of hospital ships as nothing serious. I This certainly is not: the view of respon-i sible naval authorities. Experience has, proved that neither international law. nor j ithe dictates of humanity, deter the Axis: Powers from attacking and destroying hospital ships Position of Hospital Ships I “The recent tragedy in Australian waters; which resulted in ihe loss of a hospital: ship, and many precious lives, has a [counterpart in live destruction of a Greek [hospital ship, the story of which was told [by a New Zealander who recently returnled. Mr. Luxford is in error in staling | that hospital ships have to radio their [position every half-hour while at sea. ] “Mr. Luxford is further reported to have [said that there had been ‘far too many [technical and venial prosecutions.’ I am 'unaware what prosecutions he had in jmind. If they were in respect to the imovement of ships, I must respectfully :dissent from his view, and remind him j that those who do business in great waters save still endangered by careless talk and ; incautious correspondence."