POWERFUL INFLUENCES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23436, 26 February 1938, Page 14

POWERFUL INFLUENCES

MOULDING PUBLIC OPINION PROMOTION OF TRUTH THE PRESS AND ROTARY (Special to Daily Times) CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 25. Rotary and the press were identified as two powerful influences for the moulding of public opinion and the promotion of truth and international goodwill in an address given by Mr James Hogg, of Dunedin, at the National Conference of Rotary Clubs to-day. The columns of the press in leading articles, cabled news, special articles, etc., exerted a tremendous influence in the councils of the nations, he said, and in shaping and forming public opinion.

Mr Hogg spoke of the activities of trusts and combines in the control of British newspapers, saying that New Zealand and Australia had as yet escaped the dangers of a controlled press. Even in political matters the press of New Zealand never failed to give full and impartial reports of meetings of those to whom it was politically opposed, nor failed to give space to letters from people of all shades of opinion. There were some great personalities who were outstanding in the history of the press of Great Britain and New Zealand. Among New Zealand newspaper men he mentioned particularly three who had been associated with Rotary—Sir George Fenwick, of the Otago Daily Times, Mr T. C. List, of the Taranaki Daily News, and Mr A. M. Burns, of the Christchurch Press. The public was entitled to the truth in the newspapers. It should know the facts with respect to international affairs so that it might weigh such facts and judge them correctly. Was it not ignorance on the part of the great masses in countries with an inspired and controlled political press, like Japan or Italy, that laid the foundation for danger and misunderstanding in international affairs, and prejudice and hatred that made peace impossible to maintain? Democratic nations headed by Britain and America were vitally interested in maintaining that complete freedom of the press which could be threatened by State interference and Government control. Even to-day our press was allowed fully to criticise the Government policy, no matter what party was in power, and considerable freedom was allowed the papers in criticising even military and naval affairs during and after the war. It had to be acknowledged that there were several -occasions in the Empire’s history, an example being the Crimean War, when it was due to the prqss that the public became aware of ’ the inadequate strength of the British navy and the deplorable lack of organisation of food transport and medical hospital facilities. Through press campaigns the public demanded and obtained vital improvements.

The press had also at times of great economic change prepared an attack and forced the hands of Governments on problems of free trade, tariff protection and a drastic change in the monetary policy. Public opinion led and fostered by the press had exerted a power in many national crises. It might be asked: “ Has the press exerted 100 great an influence in national policy decisions as against the judgment of the people’s representatives? ” While there had been instances of papers tending to upset the public confidence in important Government appointments yet he believed it must be held that it was this right of criticism that kept British politics pure and gave the actions of public men the full light of day. Rotary had a vital interest in the press at Home. Rotary must undoubtedly thank the whole press of New Zealand for its unstinted support at all times of any community effort by Rotary and by the community at large, whether it was crippled children, health camps, Boy Scouts, Plunket work, or other worthy efforts. The press was most generous in the free service of its columns and its strong editorial support. There was a great affinity between the press and Rotary. Both worked for community service and the highest ideals of mankind. With the assistance of the press Rotary work became better known and better understood. International friendship through the columns of the press and through the ranks of Rotary was the call of the future.