THE NEW ZEALAND PRESS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18444, 30 March 1922, Page 9

THE NEW ZEALAND PRESS.

A VISITOR’S TRIBUTE. ABSENCE OF NORTHCLIFFE INFLUENCE. There appears to be an opinion general among visitors that the standard of the New Zealand Press is a high one. This fact was commented upon to an Auckland Star representative by Mr A. P. Main, a Scottish ironworks owner who is at present on a visit to the Dominion. “There is no doubt that the Press can pander to the lower instincts ot the people,” he said, “but 1 have not seen that in this country. It is a thing to be avoided at all cost. Character is what counts first and last. It is the foundation of the Empire, but lack of it cau quite easily be the Empire’s destruction. There is no doubt that the Anglo-Saxon people are the salt of the earth: one has only to travel round the world to see it.”

He said that Lord Northcliffe had done much to debase the Press of the Old Land. His interest in most of the important newspapers was paramount, and in this connection, Mr Main mentioned a fact which he said was probably little known in this part of the world, and that is that Lord Northcliffe has a controlling interest in the Paris “Matin.” “He is a great man,” he added with emphasis.. “Lord Northcliffe did a wonderful work in the war, but he lost his head. He tried to be a young Napoleon, and failed.” There was one thing, however, that was to his everlasting credit, and that was the improvement in status he obtained for London and British journalists in general. “You have a very high standard of journalism in this country," concluded Mr Main, “and see that you keep it.”