Journalists' Case Opens On Kaka Crash Details

Chronicle (Levin), 17 January 1949, Page 5

Journalists' Case Opens On Kaka Crash Details

WELLINGTON, Jan. 17. The- case for the New Zealand Journdlists' Association was open-. ed by Mr. W. E. Leicester when the Commission of Inquiry into the circumstances concerning the release of information after the flnding of the bodies of the victims of the Kaka airliner crash last October was resumed today. Mr. Leicester said that to a large extent the association was on 'cortimbn ground with the case as outline'd by the Crown regarding the circumstances surrounding the Kaka crash. The association cofltended, however, that some of these Circumstances had been exaggerated. The Acting Prime Minister, Mr. Nash, had been asked by the association to have an inquiry instituted into the alleged ' interference with journalists, and he

nau agreed to do so, said Mr. Leicester. The association had complied with a request by Mr. Nash td supply a precis of the complaintis and charges, and in returh asked that a copy of any comments by the departmental offlcens on the eompiaints and dllarges should be supplied. For reasons Mr. Nash might have thought proper, this was ndt done, a-dded counsel, Mr. Leicester emphasised that the journalists' case was not an attack on the Government or on any Minister as such. The asSociation contended that departmental powers 'had heen misused

to the detriment of newspapefs and to those concerned with gathering information and giving to the public news of Dominion-wide interest. The association was concerned about the setting .up of a tempofary censorshi'p, continued counsel. The principle on which the association stood was that the refusal of information to newspapers and the closing of channels of information customarily open was an intolerable invasion of the traditional right to obtain newS and to pass it on to the public. A mu2zled Press ceaSed to be a free Press, and free Press was an essential safeguard to New Zea1land's way of life. The very nature of the journalists' wofk made it essential that they must have -access and direct access to the soufces of news. Even before tlie war, there was a tendency to chanhel news through one source — in. the case of departments through a Minister, by local bodies through a mayor and in othet cases through public relations offi-

cers. The association iield that when all Sotlrces of information were. blocked the disease was becoming malignant, said Mr. Leicester. The. feputation of New Zealahd | journalists in keeping confidences was as high as that of journalists. in any country. In some other OOUntfies the situation which'

developed oyer the Kaka' might have led fco sqniSationalism, but despite the. blocjking ;of information the public Was giVen all news as rapidly as posSlble, said Mf, Leicester. The hearing k proceeding.