DEALING WITH REBELLIOUS EDITORS.

Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, 7 August 1912, Page 3

DEALING WITH REBELLIOUS EDITORS.

It is interesting to note that severe measures which the Indian Governments formerly took to keep the press within bounds. In 1799 the Government of the Marquis Wellesley passed a special Press Act, under which no subject was allowed to be published in the Calcutta papers until it had been read by the Government Censor of the press. In Bombay this office was held by Mr. Francis Warden, who was Press Censor for fifteen years. His duty was to read the proof-sheets, and to expunge from them all matters in any way prejudicial to the Government. Care was also taken to see that naval and shipping intelligence did not in any way prejudicially affect the interests of the East India Company.

The operation of this Act soon brought several editors into violent conflict with the Government^ conflict which was solved by the sweetly simple manner which the Indian Government of to-day is equally keen upon—deportation! Quite a crowd of Calcutta editors suddenly found themselves on board Government ships in the Hoogly, and their little day was over. Several other, journalists who had offended at once fell upon the necks of the Government wallahs in order to escape deportation, and since then, until Lord Minto's time, the press of India has been allowed very great license.