UNSAVOURY COURT CASES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18898, 26 June 1923, Page 7

UNSAVOURY COURT CASES.

PUBLICATION OF DETAILS. SUPPRESSION URGED. (Pkk United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, June 25. The desirability of suppressing the publication of details in unclean criminal and divorce cases was discussed at a meeting of the Council of Christian Congregations, and the following motion was passed:—‘That this council deplores the fullness of detail with which unclean criminal and divorce proceedings have of late been reported in some of our daily papers. The council recognises that many of our newspapers exercise commendable restraint in spite of the demand of a certain section of the public for such details. It would point out that no public interest is served by publishing such details, but that it conduces to contamination of the minds of the youthful readers of newspapers. It would appeal to the newspapers of this city to conserve tile high standard of journalism in the main observed in this dominion, and it would urge upon the Government the necessity of making police action possible against newspapers that descend to the level of becoming obscene publications under the guise of the liberty of the press.” It was decided that a letter on this matter ho sent to the Minister of Justice, urging action on the part of the Government.