Help From Department In Informing Public

Press, Volume C, Issue 29513, 13 May 1961, Page 12

Help From Department In Informing Public

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, May 12. A suggestion that officers of the External Affairs Department should help to inform the public on international affairs raised an animated discussion at the closing session of the New Zealand Institute of Public Administration

convention. The session was devoted to a panel discussion on the future of New Zealand' in world affairs. Professor F L. W. Wood, professor of history at Victoria University of Wellington, was chairman and tha other participants were Mr B. E. Taiboys. M.P.. Professor C. C. Aikman, professor of jurisprudence and constitutional law at Victoria University, Dr. A. M. Finlay, president of the Labour Party, and Mr E. V. Dumbleton, editor-in-chief of the “Auckland Star.”

The question “Should officers of the External Affairs Department do more to educate people on external affairs?’’ was one of a number asked the panel. Mr Dumbleton said if it was possible for officers of the department to educate people thev should do so. If they could not. somebody else should be doing it. New Zealand people took an interest in international affairs but it was no more than a spectator interest.

“More Controversy” The atmosphere would be more healthy if there were more controversy. He hoped that the political parties would never be divided on fundamental loyalties but where there was room for differences of opinion they should be voiced by members of Parliament. • "Why was the Al! Black controversy so shamefaced? Why were so many important people silent? Was it because the Question .was a real one in this countrv but people were unaccustomed to thinking about any questions ex. cept roads and bridges questions?” Mr Taiboys asserted that

there were disadvantages in public servants taking part in such activities. Even the preparation of a background paper had its dangers because it was easy to read policy into the manner in which something was expressed. People had their opportunities to be informed, unless they wanted to be spoon-fed Basically they needed to realise that their security was wrapped up with events. Dr. Finlay said there was room for more disagreement in the New Zealand press. The newspapers gave exten. sive coverage of foreign affairs but every newspaper carried the identical reports. Only editorials might differ. He would like to see some papers drawing their news from the other sources that existed.

Mr Dumbleton replied that the Reuter service which New Zealand newspapers received was provided by one of three big agencies, the others being American and French. There was also the Russian agency. He wondered if doubling the supply byproviding one of the American services would be appreciated by readers. His observation was that the Reuter service was more objective than either American service. He agreed that the present system had theoretical and perhaps practical disadvantages. Professor Aikman sa:d it should be possible for officers of the department to address groups of people, even with the press present, without embarrassing the Minister. They were equipped to speak and when overseas were expected to do so.

The advantages of their doing so outweighed the disadvantages.