CENSORSHIP AN ART

Waikato Independent, Volume XL, Issue 3667, 13 February 1940, Page 3

CENSORSHIP AN ART

NEWS FOR THE PUBLIC DIRECTOR’S EXPLANATION Declaring that he wanted the public to have news as quickly as possible, Sir Walter Monckton, K.C., Director-General of the Press and Censorship Bureau, stated in London recently that he hoped to give the Press greater assistance than had been in his power in the past. ‘ Sir Walter was being entertained to dinner by journalists accredited to the Press Bureau. More than. 200 journalists, representing newspapers in all countries except Germany were present. • ‘ “It is easy for people outside to conclude that we are natural foes,’"' Sir Walter said. “You, they think, want to tell the public the secrets which I want to withhold. “But it is a false picture. You want the public to have the news as quickly as possible. I want that too. “I want; to v - prevent; the enemy getting frjpm the a which would help JYqu want that tod. ; The difficulty isTfim practical of reconciling/the admitted need for ’ quick; phblication of news’, with * the - admitted necessity of withholding .vital secrets from the enemy'. “In the difficult task of reconciling' the two; we are allies who dnderstand .each other’s troubles. “Censorship is an art, and riot a ’science. There are no rigid rules. “We- censors: inevitably make mistakes. in exercising our discretion and, if you chose to hit us each time, you could score off us with the fluency and facility of a Bradman. “Whereas if we, on our part, were anxiously to apply each Defence Notice inelastically and in its literal sense, you would murder me , within a week and no jury would convict.”