CRITICISM OF ATTACK

Taranaki Daily News, 1 May 1937, Page 9

CRITICISM OF ATTACK

By Telegraph—Press Association.

PRESS OF NEW ZEALAND "FREE FROM SENSATlONAUSM." WAIKATO DlOCESE GRAT1TUDE. FRIENDLY ATTITUDE TO CHURCH.

Hamilton, April 30. In tlie editorial of this month's Waikato Diocesan Magazine criticlsm is voiced at the attack on the press by the Rev. G. G. Scrimgeour, Director of Commercial Broadcasting. , "By comparison with many of the 'dailies' and 'weeklies' published in England the newspapers of New Zealand are of a very high standard," says the editorial. "They are surprisingly free from cheap sensationalism which characterises so many of those papers to which we have already referred. One or two 'weeklies' in New Zealand have, it is true, built up a large circulation through frank, but far from indecent, discusslon and .eporting of Police Court news, but in so doing they render a real public service. Strongest Deterrent. j "A sense of shame is often the strongest deterrent to people who cannot respond to a less painful treatment and publication of this class of 'news' but conflrms the Scriptural statement: 'For nothing is secret that shall not be made manifest; .neither any thing hid that shall not be known and come abroad.' "Therefore we entirely fail to appreciate, even in truth alone, the advisability of the attack which the 'Rev.' C. G. Scrimgeour launched against the press of New Zealand. So far as the publication bf religious matters is concerned . the principal daily papers of New Zea- . land are . most generous. Furthermore they hold the balance .very. fairly between . the various denominatlons and we have nothing but gratitude to express for . this . fair and courteous treatment. Were this not an editorial but rather an expression of the personhl opinion pf the writer, we should have something to say about the 'flabby indefiniteness' of this new cult known as 'The Friendly Road,' from which has emanated this most unfriendly and vicious attack' upon those who, without any mouthing of the word 'friendly,' have at least shown themselves to be friendly towards all that ls for the general good of the people of the Domin- ■ ion." «. ( •' ri