DANGERS OF ACTION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 68, 21 March 1942, Page 4

DANGERS OF ACTION

PRIME MINISTER'S SPEECH JOI RN A LISTS’ ( RI TICIS.M. The Prime Minister’s broadcast ad- . dress on March 8 has been discussed by the Dominion Council of the New Zealand Journalists' Association ana the secretary was instructed to draw his attention to certain dangers in the ’ action he proposed to take. In view of the fact that the speech was broadcast, the secretary was instructed to forward a copy of tne letter to the Press and a copy is enclosed. The 1 Prime Minister has been advised of ’ this action. Following is the letter sent to the ' Prime Minister by the New Zealand Journalists’ Association:— The Dominion Council of this as- . sociation has directed me to draw , I your attention to the dangers of any • I action such as that predicted in your ’ speech of March 8, in which you said. • "action would he taken to stop the i dissemination of false statements and l perspective which were bound to have • a detrimental and depressing effect on . the minds of people,” the dangers being:— i That the application to a civil population of a censorship that goes beyond lhe suppression of details ol use to the enemy .has a depressing ; effect itself, because people who believe that something affecting their I interests is being withheld from ■ them tend to suspect that the truth I is something their rulers fear to . disclose. ‘ That democracy cannot continue ; if those in power for the time being i suppress statements which enable : the public to judge them because I they think the comment unfair or based on incorrect information. The democratic method of correcting what the Government considers •J erroneous comment- being for it to •! make public what it regards as the i 1 truth. In England full freedom oi . I expression, both verbal and printed, • j has been allowed since the outbreak of the war and critical comments ■ I on aspects on war administration in il England have not been regarded as - undermining public confidence in the national effort but, on the contrary, have been instrumental in > bringing about beneficial changes ; and ultimately strengthening general morale