EMPIRE NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 June 1930, Page 8

EMPIRE NEWS.

The discussion at the Imperial Press Conference in regard to the need for wider public knowledge of Empire affairs was distinctly illuminating. It showed how much ground there is to be covered before a true apportionment of the importance of events can be arrived at, and it was a clear demonstration of the value of such conferences. An Australian delegate drew attention to the need for greater publicity in the British newspapers in regard to Commonwealth affairs. To this the London Press representatives retorted that already Australia with a population of six million people received more publicity in the London papers than did the London County Council, which governed seven millions. But the analogy is unsound. Were it followed it would mean increasing the parochial nature of the daily Press, instead of widening its scope and service. In this country it is the broader attitude of the Press that has won praise oversea, and if closer Empire union is ever to be fore than a beautiful ideal it is in fuller knowledge by all of the aims and difficulties of each of its component parts that the way to understanding will be found. History has made it plain that influence and nationhood cannot be judged 'by. counting heads, or by any other arithmetical process. The population of New Zealand and Australia may be only that under the control of the London County Council. But when the history of this century comes to he written it will not be seriously contended that the population of the London county did as much as that of the southern Dominions in the last two conflicts in .which the Empire was engaged, nor will it be seriously claimed that because, say, Whitechapel has more inhabitants than New Zealand, its influence upon Empire, or even upon -world, affairs, is greater than that of the Dominion. That local interests must be served, and served well, goes without saying. But if the wider conception of Empire is to be translated into practical benefit the fullest knowledge is essential, and to desseminate the information required is the privilege and the duty of the Press. It is well that the point was raised, and its discussion should do good.