“BIAS SHOWN BY REUTER”

Press, Volume C, Issue 29504, 4 May 1961, Page 22

“BIAS SHOWN BY REUTER”

South Africa’s* Accusation

(N.Z.P.A-Reuter— Copvrxght) CAPE TOWN. May 2

The Government today accused Reuters News Agency and its associate in South Africa, the South African Press Association of bias in their news items. Following an Opposition attack on the Governmentcontrolled South African Broadcasting Corporation the Minister of Posts and Telegraphs (Dr. Albert Hertzog) said the news broadcast by the broadcasting corporation had recently become more objective. "Before the corporation started its own news service it had really been a "slave of the South African Press Association because the only news it received was a news service already condensed and cooked by the press association and Reuters in London and Johannesburg." said Dr. Hertzog.

Mr H. C. Kuiper, chairman of the South African Press Association, said that he felt Dr. Hertzog was.under a misapprehension about the organisation of the association. and its functions. “The association is a cooperative news - gathering

and distributing agency owned by every daily and Sunday newspaper—English and Afrikaans—in the Union and the Rhodesian Federa-

“Overseas news supplied by he association to its mem>er newspapers, and the

broadcasting corporations comes mainly from two sources—Reuters and the Associated Press. "Like the South African association. these worldrenowned international agencies are co-operative organisations owned by the papers of their respective countries.

“Both enjoy the highest reputation for accuracy and objectivity.

“The association endeavours at all times to disseminate factual, objective news,” said Mr Kuiper.

Missionary Report From Congo

The work of the British and Foreign Bible Society in the Belgian Congo has not been affected by the recent troubles there, according to a New Zealand missionary. Miss Kathleen Holmes-Libbis, who left the Dominion last year to take up an appointment as secretary to the agent of the society in the Congo. Writing from Leopoldville, Miss Holmes-Libbis spoke cheerfully of the work being done by the society and of the prospects for missionary work in the area, said the organising secretary of the society in Christchurch (Miss J. W. Ireland) yesterday.