NEWSPAPERS SUSPENDED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 26 June 1926, Page 3

NEWSPAPERS SUSPENDED

OPERATIVES TAKE ACTION PRESSURE ON EDITORS FREEDOM OF PRESS CHALLENGED Sonir of Jho London newspapers got out their early editions to-day, and people in the outskirts of London and outer suburbs were well served, says tJie London correspondent of Ihe Olago Daily Times, under date 4th May. People nearer the centre of London who aro in the habit of getting the later editions got no newspapers at all. Now, ;iL midday, there is not a morning paper to bo bought it. Fleet Street. Apparently wo s-hall see-no more newspapers for soino iiays at least. The Oail.v Mail.was the first, to find :1 necessary to cease publication yesterdr.y morning. The National Society of Operative Printers and Assistants (Natsopas) at Carmelite House took exception to the leading article which had been prepared for publication under the heading "For King and Country," and demanded that alterations should be made by the editor, who refused to comply. They were supported by the machine minders, the stereotypers, and packers. Several unions, including the compositors, the process workers, and the telegraphists declared that it was not within their province to discuss the policy of the newspaper, and resolved to carry on their work in the usual way. The Natsopas and tub members of tho unions supporting them ceased work, and consequently there was no Daily Mail in the morning. Later on in tho day, however, 50,000 copies of the paper were printed containing the leading article which had been objected to. NOT 'AN INDUSTRIAL DISPUTE Tliero was nothing very startling in this article, which only goes to show that the "operative were looking for a pretext to precipitate their strike action. In the course of the article it was stated: "We do not wish to say anything hard about the miners themselves. As to their leaders,all wo 7ieed say at this moment is that some of them aro (and have openly declared themselves) under the influence of people who mean no good to this country. "A general strike is not an industrial dispute. It is a revolutionary movement intended to inflict suffering upon the great mass of innocent persons in tho community, and thereby to put forcible constraint upon the Govcrn?nent." PRESSURE ON EDITORS In another -article-' written after the strike of tho Carmelite House operatives the editor says : , 'The strike" order issued by tho Trades Union Congress directs that tho printing trades', including tho press, shall bo held' up 'as and when' required by the General Council.' There have been some indications tha't this order may be used as a means of putting pressure on newspapers and requiring them to satisfy the strike. leaders with regard to what matter they publish or omit in return for permission to appear. We hope that no British newspaper will assent to any ,suc.h conditions. Newspapers which are not free are much better unpublished."

DANGEROUS POWER TO THE ;. GOVERNMENT The Manchester Guardian considers •he calling out of,the prjntcrs and tho silencing of tho press a singularly misguided policy. "To put the press out of action," says tho Guardian, "gives a most dangerous power to the Government which, by its control of braodcasting, ..will enjoy a complete monopoly in the distributfon of news aiid views. Is this desired by [tlie Trade Unions Congress and the miners? In a time of crisis a free press is specially needed because it is important to keep open every channel through which moderate opinion can express itself. It is no advantage to the nation, and it is certainly no advantage to'the workers that the issues should be left to the brutal'decision of force, and thaT reason and argument should have no influence on conduct. Yet this is what i will happen if the newspapers do not appear. There will be no opportunity for discussion, and consequently the moderate forces, which might hope to 'influence the Government and public opinion, will count for veiy little. And if this controversy is not settled by the die-hards, and such a settlement will be & catastrophe." INTERFERENCE WITH CONTENTS OF PAPERS ' Last night the following"statement was made by the Daily Mail: — "We are not printing in London tonight because the men would not give an undertaking not to interfere with the editorial contents of the paper. We were printing in Manchester, but at 10 o'clock Natsopa called out all our men at Manchester, stating that they were doing it because the members of tho society in London were not allowed to start. The fact is- that the members of the society in London could have started if they would have agreed not to attempt to interfere with the contents of the paper." Memmbers of the union known as Natsopas for short on the staffs of the 'Evening Standard, tho .Evening News, and The Star, interfered with the normal working of these evening papers yesterday afternoon. Requests were made regarding the. editorial matter. The requests were refused and each of Hie <hree journals ceased publication.