EMPIRE PRESS UNION.

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18878, 23 February 1933, Page 8

EMPIRE PRESS UNION.

NEW ZEALAND PRESS. CRITICISM STRONGLY RESENTED. ATTACK BY MR COATES. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) ROTORUA, Thursday. Sympathetic reference was made to the "death of Sir Robert Donald, the eminent British journalist who was chairman of the Empire Press Union for many years, by Mr Herry Horton, president of the New Zealand branch, in an address to the annual meeting of members to-day. A motion of condolence with Lady Donald was passed.

Mr Horton said it was gratifying that in a most difficult year they had been able to 'maintain the local branch In a strong position. 'He had been asked, as chairman, to join the general committee of the Advertising and Marketing Exhibition at Olympia, London, next July, and had accepted the Invitation. There was one matter be felt it Iris duty to refer to —namely, the free criticism that was made editorially by most of the papers against 'the raising of the exchange rate. The Government thought it was the best policy to Increase the exchange, aqd the press, as usual, gave candid criticism of the proposal. But the Government, finding the proposal not so popular as it expected, very unfairly on February 3 attacked the motives of the papers in speaking as they bad done. Hon J. G. Coates, when speaking on the Bank Indemnity Bill in 'the House, had Inferred from the almost unanimous press condemnation that the Government’s action in raising the exchange rate, was resented, and that the fact that the newspapers were closely and materially affected by the exchange rate had caused them to be actuated by motives of self-interest. Mr Coates was unquestionably right In saying that the newspapers were adversely affected by the exchange irate, but many newspapers perceived that practically all other businesses were equally affected. They honestly came to the conclusion that they could not support the increase in the exchange. Mr Horton said he had frequently known that the editors had the support of the proprietors in advocating policies against the financial interests of the papers when they believed they were serving the public good. The newspapers were jealous of the high reputation that had been established by the press of this country. He believed a cruel injustice had been done to the newspapers when it was suggested that their orltioism of the Increase in the exchange had anything behind it but a sincere desire to achieve what was best for the national Interest. He hoped the press was above Imputing unworthy motives to the Government in its efforts to secure the national welfare. He also hoped the Government would have more respect for the press than to think that the strong criticism against the exchange had been inspired by selfishness. The chairman’s remarks were warmly endorsed by the meeting. Election of Officers. Messrs Hugo Freeth (Christchurch Press), Ronald Horton (Auckland Herald), and Will Appleton (Advertising Expert), were elected associate members. Mr H. Horton was re-elected president, and Mr Ronald Horton, "secretary. The sitting members of the committee were re-elected. The chairman paid tribute to the services rendered by Mr G. C. Codlin as secretary of the New Zealand branch, and conveyed to him the unanimous wishes of all present for his great success in his new and responsible post on the staff of the Sydney Morning Herald. Mr Codlin suitably acknowledged the tribute, and assured the meeting of his continued interest in the union.