MR MASSEY AND THE PRESS

Otago Witness, Issue 3442, 2 March 1920, Page 24

MR MASSEY AND THE PRESS

PRIME MINISTER'S INTERESTING CRITICISM. WELLINGTON, February 23. The Prime Minister was present at the' opening of the annual conference of the Newspaper Proprietors' Association. He was welcomed by the president of the association (Mr P. Selig). Mr Massey said he realised the importance of gatherings of pressmen. The Press Conference of 1909 had proved a very valuable influence in the cultivation of sound Imperialism. He believed New Zealand journalists who attended that conference and who subsequently wrote from the Imperial standpoint in their newspapers had been a factor in providing a basis for the fine effort made by the dominion during the war. New Zealand pressmen bad not much to learn from pressmen of the United Kingdom. He would say in this connection that he did not like the idea of newspaper combinations for political purposes on the lines made familiar bv the Northcliffe press. It had been the boast of the men who controlled the Northcliffe press that they could make and unmake Governments and influence the course of political life in Britain. That was not a desirable state of affairs, and not good for the Empire. It was true that the Northcliffe news-' papers had done some very good work during the war, particularly in 1916, but the direction of public affair? by newspapers was not a right thing. The cable news service from Britain to New Zealand, said Mr Massey, was quite good, though occasionally it contained traces of "inspiration"; but the news sent from New Zealand to Britain was inadequate in quantity and poor in quality. _ It often was ludicrous. Australia was securing a great deal of publicity in the British press through well-organised channels, and Canada was the same. New Zealand seemed left in the cold; and it would be necessary if proper publicity could not be obtained any other way to arrange for the despatch to Britain of a weekly news cablegram from New Zealand. This news could then be handed by the High Commissioner to any newspapers that would publish it. There should be no political colour about such a message, and he would prefer to have it sent by the press.