TO BE SIGNED

Taranaki Daily News, 6 November 1937, Page 6

TO BE SIGNED

(By Telegraph—Special Reporter.)

ARTICLES 'N POLITICS "ONLY GUESSWORK" MR. SAVAGE'S COMMENT J—* PAPER fORECASTS BILL

Wellington, Last Night. "ThiS is all guesswork," said the Prinie Minister, the Rt. Hon. M» J. Savage, in an interview this evening When he was asked to cofnmeht on a newspaper article published at Wellington suggesting that the Government was contemplatihg legislative action against newspapers in the publication of all items deallng With politics. "The Government," continued Mr. Savage, "had not yet decided on any course 6f aetion." The suggestibn made at Wellington to-day WaS that a Bill waS to be introduced providing that articles and reports deaiing with political subjects should be signed by the wfiterS. It Was stated that the proposal would apply only to political reporters and commentators, but that during an election campaign all reported' speeches wbuld have to be signed by the persons reporting them. Publication of Corr? spondence. Anbther suggested feature was the prbhibition of the anonymous publication of correspondence and intervieWS bf a political nature The article concluded by stating that the legislation, which wotild operate from the beginniiig of next year, was the outcortie bf represefttationS by ttiemberS bf the Gbveminent party urging disciplinary actibn against newspapers. After stating that the VieWst expressed were "all guesswbrk" the Prime Minister said he Wbuld ptefet nbt to comment further on the tnatter until the whole question had beefi cbnsidered by the Government and until the actual legislation Was framed, prbVided, bf cburse, that legislation W&"s fbUnd tb be nefiessary.