PRESS CONTROL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23714, 22 July 1940, Page 9

PRESS CONTROL

ACUTE CONTROVERSY DISPUTE IN AUSTRALIA NEW REGULATIONS DRAFTED By Telegraph—Press f Association—Copyright (Received July/ 21, 7.10 p.m.) SYDNEY, July 21 The Sunday papers give prominence to the strained relations between the Postmaster-General, Mr. PL V. Their by, and the Prime Minister, Mr. H. G. Menzies, over the recent press control controversy. The Prime Minister sent for Mr. Thorbv on Satwrday and it is reported that some plain speaking was indulged in. Later Mr. 1 horby made a statement to the effect that there was no justification for tine press inference that he was prepared to. nttack the Ministry or that he would deal direct with the Governor-Goneral if any attempt was made to dislodge him from the Cabinet. Mr. Thorby concluded by saying: "1 fully recognise and respect the authority of the Prime Minister." l< a welter of criticism the Prime Minister, . Mr. Menzies, announced on Friday that the Director-General of Information, Sir Keith Murdoch, had redrafted regulations for the control of the press, radio and film industry, and these would be considered by the Cabinet. Mr. Menzies disclaimed any intention by the Government to exercise dictatorial powers over the press. He said the sole aim was to insist that any newspaper making misstatements concerning either the war situation or the Government policy should make space available for correcting them as required. The Government had no desire to curb the most frank criticism, but it insisted that the truth must always be told to the public.

PREMIER'S OFFER AUSTRALIAN CABINET PROPOSAL TO LABOUR EARLY CONSIDERATION PERTH, July 20 Mr. J. Curtin. leader of the Federal Labour Party, revealed that in a letter to him on July 12 the Prime Minister, Mr. P. G. Menzies, offered to give the Opposition five, or possibly six, seats in the Cabinet if a National Government were formed. Mr. Menzies had added in bis letter that lie believed his leadership was not regarded as an obstacle to forming a National Government, but if he was wrong he would not allow it to stand in the way of a united effort to achieve national victory and national security.

Mr. Curtin said: "I cannot see how a group of Labour men in the minority in the Menzies-Cameron Government should alter the essential character of that Government." He added that a meeting of the Federal Labour Party would be called as early as possible to consider Mr. Menzies' proposal.

OVERSEAS FORCES SUSPENDING RECRUITING AUSTRALIA'S HOME DEFENCE BUILDING UP TO 250,000 SYDNEY, July 20 Recruiting for overseas is to be temporarily suspended in Australia when enlistments reach 80,000. The Prime Minister, Mr. Menzies, in making this announcement last night, said that already there were 70,000, men in camp. The proposed interruption in recruiting for the Australian Imperial Force, he added, was due, firstly, to the greatly changed European situation and to the necessity for building the home defence forces to 250.000. This task would be proceeded with before the formation of addition Australian Imperial Force units for overseas. PETROL RATIONING SAVING OF ONE-THIRD SYDNEY, July 20 The Prime Minister, Mr. Menzies, announced that the petrol rationing plan, allowing 40 miles a week for private cars, had been adopted by tbe Federal Government. While regretting that there was no escape from it he assured the motoring industry that steps were being taken to encourage the use of substitute fuels, such as benzol, power alcohol and producer gas units. He was also confident that the Newnes shale oil plant would be producing petrol shortly. The rationing plan aims at making a saving of 33 1-3 per cent in Australia s consumption of petrol. EMPIRE COMPLAINT

LONDON CENSORSHIP LONDON, July 10 The World's Press News says there is growing uneasiness at the marked deterioration in the co-operation usually offered Empire journalists by the Ministry of Information's censorship department. The first signs of political censorship recently caused considerable dissatisfaction, and the Empire Press Union feels so strongly on the matter that it has created a special committee, which is proceeding to meet a number of Cabinet Ministers with the object of advancing its views. Continued evidence of the priority given the British Broadcasting Corporation has annoyed Empire journalists as it has annoyed the British press.