PRESS AND PARLIAMENT

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16265, 16 July 1918, Page 4

PRESS AND PARLIAMENT

LORD BURNHAM'S VTEW,

Lord Rhondda., who was unable tc.attend the annual dinner of the News paper Press Fund m London on May 10th, sent 1000 guineas, saying. *liu» willing compliance of. the public in the numerous and oftentimes irritating orders that the Food Ministry have found it necessarv to impose must bo largely attributed to the patriotic co-operation of the Press." . r.-.! Lord Burnham, presiding said Lord Rhondda had done much to th« health of the people—(laughter)—and! had enabled many of 'tho fashionable doctors of London.to go to t\e fl ont with a clear conscience. On their toturn they -would find their patients in a far better state oF preservationthan might have.been expected. (Laughter.) In the fiery, furnace of this awfnl war our institutions had been twisted out, of recognition. None had stood and) would stand the cruel, test so well as the Newspaper Press, said Lord Burnham. He regretted he oonld not say that Parliament had to any large extent increased its hold oh the affections and respect of the people. Perhaps that had been inevitable. At the same time ill had no doubt emphasised what ho believed to be the fact that during these times tho Newspaper Press had given the fullest and freest expression to public opinion. Some people might look on government by the Press as national degradation, hilt in the development or democracy it was the bounden duty or the Newspaper Press to the Government of the people. Surely when we wore extending the bounds of our suffrage it was impossible to reach the outlying millions of the people except through the Press. He did not know what the kinematograph might become in tho course of time, but for fashioning opinion of the day it was through the Newspaper Press that democracy must carry on its own government. Donations amounting to over £8500 were announced, being nearly £300 in excess of the previous . high record. Lord Rhondda, in addition to his own cheque, collected £3000 from his personal friends. Among those who contributed 100 guineas were Lord Burnham, Lord Northcliffe,. Sir Thomas Mackenzie, Sir Thomas Lipton, Sir Robert Kindersley, Sir George Riddell, and Sir Charles Bathurst.