NEW ZEALAND PRESS DEFENDED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 3 May 1937, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND PRESS DEFENDED

“FRIENDLY ROAD” ATTACK [United Press Association] HAMILTON, 30th April. In an editorial of this month’s Waikato 'Diocesan Magazine criticism is vo'eed at the Press attack by Mr C. G. Scrimgeour. “By comparison with many of the dailies and weeklies published in England, the newspapers of New Zealand are of a very high standard They are surprisingly free from that cheap sensationalism which characterises so many of those papers to which we have already referred,” states the editorial.■

“One or two weeklies in New Zealand have, it is true, built up a large circulation through frank ‘but far from indecen*’ discussion and the reporting of police court news, but in so doing they render a real public service. A sense of shame is often the strongest deterrent to people who cannot respond to less painful treatment and publica-. tion of this class of ‘news’ serves to confirm the scriptural statement ‘For nothing is secret that shall not be known and come abroad.’ “Therefore we entirely fail to appreciate even the truth, let alone the advisability, of the attack which the Rev. C. G. Scrimgeour launched against the Press of New Zealand. “So far as the publication of religious matters is concerned, the principal daily papers of New Zealand are most generous. Furthermore they hold the balance very fairly between the various <■’ nominations and we have nothing but gratitude to express for this fair and courteous treatment. “Were this not an editorial but rather an expresison of the personal opinion of the writer, we should have something to say about the ‘flabby indefiniteness’ of this new cult known as the kfriendly road’ from which has emanated this most unfriendly and vicious attack upon those who, without any mouthing of the word ‘friendly,’ have at least shown themselves to be friendly towards all that is for the general gc .d of the people of the Dominion.”