The Star. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER. 3, 1920. THE PRESS IN SAMOA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20042, 3 September 1920, Page 6

The Star. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER. 3, 1920. THE PRESS IN SAMOA.

fr Speaking in the House on August 11 tlio member for .Lyttoltou asked the Minister sl internal Affairs " whether, in view of the fact that the Government has purchased a controlling interest in tie ' Samoa Times,' it is the intention c<f the Government to use public hinds to purchase a controlling interest 11- the Now Zealand newspapers likely to criticise the Government, ancUhus stifle hostile criticism of n Government representing a minority of the people of New Zealand?" Wo do not know whether Mr M'Combs had the " Maorilnnd' Worker" in his mind, and was warning Mr Massey against a flutter in shares, but he was •primarily seeking information about the Press in Samoa. The Minister replied at onco that the Government had no interest, direct or indirect, in a Samoan newspaper. That answer appeared to dispose of the question, but a few days later a letter appeared in the " Dominion " newspaper stating that the joint business managers of tho "Samoa Times" Company were Olnf Frederick Nelson, merchant, Apia; Arthur Duguid Keeling, bank manager, Apia; Robert MacKenzio Watson, Judge, Samoan Court; Percival Ernest Patrick, Commissioner .of Crown Lands, and manager of plantations; and Samuel John Wills, Government accountant; three out of the five ' business managers being public servants, and Arthur Keeling,, bank manager, a nominated member of the Administra. tor's Advisory Legislative Council. Mr M'Combs then asked if tho Minister would explain how these facts agreed with the statement that the Government had not got a controlling interest in tho " Samoa Times." Tho Minister has again replied, stating that "noithcr the Government nor tho Samoan Administration had any interest whatsoever in the ' Samoa Times' Company. Mr K. M. Watson, at present a Samoan official, and who is also one of the chief shareholders, owns ten shares out of a total of twenty-five. Ho is, however, returning to the Dominion to take up an appointment in tho Magistracy, and when he leaves Samoa the number of Administration officials holding shares in tho ' Samoa Times' will bo two, owning one each out of a total of twenty-five. Other shares are held by private shareholders, one of whom is the manager of the bank at Apia." The Minister (the .Hon Ej. P. Leo) added that it was absurd to suggest that because one of the shareholders was a member of "the Legislative Council ho -was therefore under the control and influence, of the Government or Administration. Yet a statement was made by a deputation to the Prime Minister yesterday that 'proofs of what was going m the paper were always sent fo the Adminiscrator before the paper was published, and there had been sufficient influence to result in certain things failing to appear. Shares were held by Government officials, and it was natural that the policy of tho paper,should be influenced." J] r Massey's reply was that the Government had nothing to do with it, and had not been responsible* for certain officials taking advantage of what appeared to be a goo'd proposition. Mr Massey, however, merely evaded the point which the deputation had made. It is not desirable, in the interests of the public that public officials should bo actively concerned and interested in the policy and management or a newspaper. Would the Government of New Zealand, for instance, permit the beads of its big Departments to accept seats on the boards of directors of newspaper companies? There can be only one reply to that question. A public servant who associated himself with tne policy and management of a party organ would bo invited, to choose between his job and his newspaper connection. The same principle .should hold good in Samoa. The fact that a position has arisen which is the subject of serious and hostile comment should bo placed before the officers concerned and they should bo invited to with.' draw from an association which may embarrass the cause of good government.