FREEDOM OF PRESS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22355, 28 February 1936, Page 12

FREEDOM OF PRESS

POLITICAL CHANGES UNRESTRICTED SERVICE NEWSPAPERS' RESPONSIBILITY [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] HASTINGS, Thursday In an address presented at the Newspaper Proprietors' Association s annual conference held in Napier this evening, the president, Mr. C. VV. Earle, said the change in the Government of the country which resulted from tho last general election had, in some respects, thrown an added sponsibility on the newspapers of the Dominion. It had to be recognised that the policy of the new Government, as announced at tho general elections, involved departures in the administration of tho affairs of the country which, for good or ill, must vitally affect the welfare of all classes. Experimental Policy "Certain of the policy proposals," said Mr. Earle, "are in the nature of experiments which not only promise to disturb existing business and business practices, but to place in the hands of the State powers which must conflict with the rights at present enjoyed by pr/yate firms and individuals. I am not at the moment questioning the wisdom, or unwisdom, of the new Government's policy. This association as an association has no concern with party politics. Its members may, and do, belong to all shades of political opinion, and the newspapers support such policies and parties as their individual judgment may determine, but our association is concerned with the standards of service which guide tho conduct of the press standards of the country, and it is concerned to assist and encourage its. members to recognise the obligations pf a free press to render loyal service to the people as a whole. To-day, in my opinion, no greater service can be rendered than by giving the fullest possible publicity to the policy proposals of the Government and the reasons advanced for and against the measures framed to give practical shape to the changes they involve. Unwarranted Suggestions " There is a tendency in some quarters to suggest that the press of the Dominion, because it is in the main opposed to socialistic principles, may not give the Government now iiv office the same publicity for its proposals and views that has been accorded previous governments. Any suggestion of this nature is a gross and unwarranted reflection on the press of this country. " The present Government will find the news columns of the press as freely open to it for the information and enlightenment of the public concerning its policy and administration as did any of its predecessors in office. Indeed, in view of the far-reaching possibilities of the departures from established economic and financial policy indicated by the Government, it is desirable and in the public interest that even greater latitude, if that be possible, should be granted Ministers to-day to make known through the press the grounds on -which they seek to justify the changes it is their intention to introduce. Readiness to Co-operate "I mention these matters now in order, first to clear away any misconceptions which may exist as to the attitude of the press of this { Dominion to the present holders of Ministerial office, and secondly to emphasise that the newspapers are ready to-day, as they always have been, to assist and cooperate with the Government of the country in any measures which in their judgment seem likely to the welfare of the people generally. The election of officers resulted: — President, Mr. C. W. Earle, C.M.G. (reelected) ; general committee, Messrs. A. M. Burns, W. J. Blundell, F. A. Clarke, R. D. Horton, W. C. Weston, R. H. Billens, H. W. Crawford; advertising committee, Messrs. E. A. Blundell, A. D. Seabrook, W. M. Weston, H. E. Bell, A. J. Allport, L. A. Ablett; labour committee, Messrs. Wm. Easton, E. A. Blundell, J. M. Hardcastle, H. E. Bell, R. H. Billens, R. W. Roydhouse; paper committee, Sir Cecil Leys, Sir Henry Horton, Messrs. W. J. Blundell, A. M. Burns. W. A. Whitlock. W. J. Woods, C. Bagnall; Parliamentary committee. Sir Cecil Messrs, E. A. Blundell. A. M. Burns, C. S. Smith, W. C. Weston. 11. P. Furness; treasurer, Mr. W. J. Blundell (reelected); auditor, Mr. W. L. Page (reelected) ; chairman, section 1, Mr. C. W. Earle (re-elected), section 2, Mr. W. C. Weston (re-elected), sections 3 and 4, Mr. H. W. Crawford. The next conference will be held at the Hermitage.