AN UNFAIR ATTACK

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 293, 12 December 1941, Page 4

AN UNFAIR ATTACK

W/HILE relations between the Governmi nt and the Press are not lacking in cordiality—the present Government having shown a consideration to the Press beyond any of its predecessors—the Standard, the propaganda journal of the Labour Party, continues to endeavour to poison the stream by unfair tactics. In its issue of December 1 1 it publishes a biased account of the proceedings in the Arbitration Court wherein wage increases were sought. This need not be a matter for comment as the object of the Standard is not to present an unbiassed picture. hut to engage in a frankly propaganda effort on behalf of one political party. In the course of this biased report, how ever, is interpolated the following:— “So deadly was Mr. Mel.agen s cross-examination (of Prolessor Tocker. an expert witness in the case) that it proved altogether too much for the daily papers. They reported none of it, merely reporting that the proceedings in the Court that day resolved themselves into a six hour duel between Mr. .Mel.agen and Professor Tocker.’’ The inference is that the cross-examination of Professor locker was suppress) d by the daily newspapers because il was "so deadly.” The inference which the Standard intended to be conveyed is unfair because il does not assert that the statement which Professor Tocker had prepared ami on which he was subjected to cross-examination, was also not reported in the newspapers. The statement was some 12.0(H) words in length, and even without headings would have required one and a-lialf pages of an average daily newspaper for its accornntodafion. The statement was highly technical in character, and consequently defiid condensation. If the statement itself ,-oiild not lie condensed, the cross-examination of Professor Tocker on this statement presented an even greater problem, ami fin representatives of the newspapers present knew that there was no possibility of either the one or the other being accommodated in the newspapers which are now reduced in size.. The daily newspapers, therefore, published the short Press Association report, which gave neither the ease presented by Professor Tocker nor the results of the cross-examination by .Mr. MeLagen.