“HOSPITABLE COLUMNS”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 417, 27 July 1928, Page 16

“HOSPITABLE COLUMNS”

PRAISE FOR THE SUN DUTY OF PRESS TO PUBLIC The opportunity given to the State Education Defence League to make its opinions public, caused THE SUN to be praised by the president, Mr. C. E. Major, at the annual meeting of the league last evening. “I would particularly refer,” he said, “to the attitude of a section of the Press to the question of the Bible-in-schools. The newspapers are, of course, entitled to their own views, but as public organs, it devolves upon them to give both sides fair play. “A short letter was sent by me to an Auckland paper, in courteous terms, drawing attention to certain statements made at a recent public meeting by Mr. Isitt and Professor Lawson. “Despite strenuous representations, the letter was not published, although two columns had been given to the report of the meeting. “That is one sample of the treatment accorded us. In a recent discussion with an Anglican master of a sectarian school, ample space was given his arguments. My letters were grossly mutilated and the meaning distorted. “A pleasing contrast to this treatment is that accorded by THE SUN. The hospitable columns of that paper have ever been open to opinions from us. The management deserves our thanks and suodopL"