Nelson Evening Mail THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1943 BRITISH NEWSPAPER VISITORS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 25 November 1943, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1943 BRITISH NEWSPAPER VISITORS

KNOWING that the best way to find out about a country and its people is to go and see them, three members of the British Press Mission are now spending a week in New Zealand, after having visited Australia. That is not nearly long enough for them to see and hear all they would like to, but the contact is valuable on both sides. Personal relations play a great part in promoting understanding among different parts of the Commonwealth and the more we get to know about one another’s problems and aspirations the easier it will be to work together in the years that are to come. Swift transport, speedy communication and circumstances attending a world war have brought this, most distant of all the Dominions, out of its isolation and, whether we like it or not, there can no longer be any question of living unto ourselves alone. For better or worse the affairs not only of the Commonwealth but of the world have become all mixed up together and much will depend on how we can develop these new associations. Knowledge of each other, tolerance and sympathetic appreciation of what may sometimes be opposing viewpoints are some of the lubricants which will take the squeaks and gratings out of international, and in-tra-Commonwealth dealings. Visiting is one of the best ways of getting to know one another better and it will be good if, after the war, there is a constant all-way exchange of visits, especially of those whose vocation in life is to inform public opinion and help guide it. The fruits of the tour of the present delegation will be reflected in due course in the columns of the British newspapers they control. They are here seeking first-hand knowledge so necessary for perspective in presenting both news and views. A corresponding benefit would accrue through Australian and New Zealand newspaper men returning the visit. To a certain extent this is being done but some members of the delegation have suggested that there should be frequent interchanges of journalists between Britain and her Dominions. That is certainly in line with the trends of the times. Opportunity has also been taken by Sir Walter Layton, Sir Neville Pearson and Mr Samuel Storey to comment on such important topics as population, trade and machinery for inter-Empire con-

sultation—all questions of the greatest moment to our common destiny and not to be shelved even in the midst of whole-hearted prosecution of the main task in hand, that of winning the war. Opinions expressed have not shown the least trace of dogmatism, but. because they are the views of men with their fingers on the pulse of Commonwealth and world sentiment, they will command wide respect. There is no suggestion that rcady-ipadc formulas are at hand to solve any of the bigger problems which will loom up on the road towards a “new order.”

Tributes have also been paid to the newspapers of the Dominions lor their faithful presentation of war and other news. In Australia the delegation said they had not encountered any major surprises, finding conditions much as they were represented in Press messages and articles reaching Britain. Newspapers hold the mirror up to life and do their best to record the daily cavalcade of events in their own particular sphere and on a world canvas. Sometimes the picture on any particular day may lack focus; sometimes a report .which turns out later to be false is printed in good faith but, reading the news week in and week out, and balancing it up, it is remarkable what a faithful reflection is provided. Especially does this apply to war news gathered often under most difficult conditions by journalists always working against the clock. A specific example was given the other day by a Nelson officer of the R.A.F. who participated in the air-borne landing in Sicily. He said the report of the operation printed in the New Zealand papers was the most accurate he had read.

Members of the visiting delegation are associated with some of the great British dailies and other well-known publications, which, like most other aspects of community endeavour the world over, are working under wartime difficulties and restrictions. They have spoken of the freedom which the British Press enjoys, this of course being linked with great responsibility. When they go back home they will be able to turn their experiences and observations in the Dominions to good use. New Zealand and Australia will benefit in all sorts of intangible ways, as will the whole of the British Commonwealth through the diffusion of accurate information and the promotion of mutual understanding and confidence, which are two of the primary functions of the Press.