PRICELESS BENEFIT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 276, 22 November 1943, Page 3

PRICELESS BENEFIT

INFLUENCE OF NEWSPAPER STAFF EXCHANGE

Recd. 6 p.m. Sydney, Nov. 11. The frequent interchange of newspapermen between all parts of the Empire would be of priceless benefit to Empire relations, declared Mr. Arthur Ford, leader of the Canadian Press Delegation now in Australia and soon to visit New Zealand. He made this statement at a reception to the delegation by the Australian Newspaper Proprietors’ Association.

Mr. Eric Kennedy, acting-president of the association, who recently headed the Australian Press Delegation which visited Britain and the United States, said the delegation had found few surprises in overseas travel, so accurate was the picture painted by the overseas cable service of the Australian and New Zealand Press. “This accuracy," he added, “gave us gratification and a deep sense of obligation to our fellow newspapermen who, in danger and despair, have contrived to maintain objectivity and accuracy. We found that, although our papers have to condense and screen the news to reflect the world around them, their final presentation is comprehensive and wide in its scope. In this rapidly shrinking planet, we are close neighbours with every other nation. Only by greater knowledge shall we understand them and only by the mutual understanding and mutual tolerance that it brings shall this

world have any real hope of peace Newspapers have great obligation." and a magnificent opportunity tc help." Tribute to the war correspondents has been paid by the Allied land commander in the South-west Pacific, General Sir Thomas Blarney. “You have done a first-class job,” he said, in a New Guinea interview, “and we all appreciate it. I have never known a campaign to be presented so well as you fellows have done this one.”