BRITAIN TO HOLD INQUIRY INTO CONTROL OF THE PRESS

Wanganui Chronicle, 31 October 1946, Page 5

BRITAIN TO HOLD INQUIRY INTO CONTROL OF THE PRESS

A ROYAL COMMISSION London, Oct. 29. Mr. Hadyn Davies (Labour) opened the Press inquiry debate in the House of Commons to-day, moving:—‘Having regard to increasing public concern at the growth of monopolistic tendencies in control of the Press, and with the object of furthering a free expression of opinion through the Press with greatest possible accuracy in the presentation of news, this House considers a Royal Commission should be appointed to inquire into the financial control and management and ownership of the Press." Mr. Davies said the motion was not put on the order paper at Mr. Morrison's behest with the object of muzzling the Press or curtailing its freedom, or because the Government wanted to nationalise the Press. Mr. Davies, who emphasised that he was not a newspaper proprietor but a working journalist, said: "We have watched the destruction of great newspapers and have seen great combines building up and killing independent journals. We have seen the honourable profession of journalism degraded by high finance and big business. We have watched subservience replace judgment. The only freedom of the Press to-day is the freedom of newspaper proprietors. They have perfected a closed shop with the highest entrance fee in industry.”

Mr. Herbert Morrison said he had read the same leading article in several Kemsley newspapers and was told later by journalists that a directive was issued daily from Kemsley’s London headquarters to provincial editors. Instructing them on the line to take for the leading article, and sometimes even for a feature article.

Mr. Morrison, answering an interjection, stated that the Government, in due course, would authorise an inquiry into the 8.8. C. Mr. Davies’ motion was carried by 270 votes to 157. No Conservatives voted for the motion.

The Press Association says Labour members were given a free vote and about half a dozen voted against the motion and several abstained. The Liberals were about equally divided. The Government has already decided the terms of reference for the Royal Commission, which will follow fairly closely the lines of last night's motion. The Commission, which will be set up shortly, will be asked to inquire: (1) The monopolistic tendencies in control of the Press.

(2) The finance, management and ownership of the Press. ,(3) To assess the influence of advertising on the presentation of news.