FREEDOM OF PRESS NOT TRADING COMMODITY

Chronicle (Levin), 21 June 1947, Page 5

FREEDOM OF PRESS NOT TRADING COMMODITY

NEWSPAPERS BELONG TO PEOPLE Received Saturday, 9.50 a.m. LONDON, June 20. The chairma'n of tlie Australian Associated Press, Mr. R. A. Henderson, speaking at a dinner given by Reuter's manager (Mr. Christopher Chancellor) said: "There has been a lot of criticism about the newspapers lately and much has been said about the neCesSity for the imposition of some form of eontrol. The mistake that people who feel this way make is that they think of the freedom of the Press as a possession or Aested right of some particular paper they dis'iike. Freedom of the Press is- not a commodity which can be traded or coiitrolled. It is a basie liberty, and one of the people's heritages. "The newspapers are partly the creation and whoily the reflection of their . readers,'" he continued, "and as long as a person is free to choose what newspapers he shall read the danger of abuse that comes from licence is remote. If a newspaper is to maintain public confidence it must be fair, accur-. rate and honest. It is apparent how much more essential that should be the case with a great news agency, which was the source of news for all newspapers. It is vital, especially in times like the present, that a news agency's mtegrity should be unquestioned and that it should be beyond the iapacity of any individual or group to influence. "Reuter's integrity, and character, and its function as a facual news agency, had been assembled and guarante'ed in perpetuity, and apart from financial considerations. The Australian and New Zealand partnership with Reuter's must entail a closer and better understanding between various parts of the Commonwealth." Mr. Chancellor said that the new Reuter partnership was the first example of United Kingdom organisation. "We believe we are setting a new pattern in Commonwealth relationships in this real partnership in running a British , concern which operates on a world-wide scale." Mr. Chancellor paid tribute to Sir Keith Murdoch, now the Australian triistee of Reuter's, as the "prime mover in the partnership design," and Sir Cecil Leys, of Auckland, and the New Zealand trustees.