WELL WORTH WHILE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 58, 3 December 1918, Page 4

WELL WORTH WHILE

The British Ministry of Information is one of the developments of the war, and there can be no doubt, in spite of considerable criticism on.the score of its expenditure and the unique position of autocratic responsibility held by its Ministerial head, Lord Beavekbrook, that it has justified its existence. The business of the Ministry of Information, speaking generally, has been to acquaint the public, by various means, with the true facts of the war, to enlighten the people as to the reasons for certain developments in the war situation, for the why and wherefore of certain lines of policy, and so on. In short, the whole fabric of the Ministry rested upon the axiom that .where there is light there is knowledge and understanding. In many ways the Ministry has been able to put the public in closer touch' with the Government's general conduct of the war, and by interesting and informative propaganda carry the light of understanding to the farthest outposta of the Empire. Again, visiting statesmen from overseas, accredited visitors from Allied and neutral countries, have been taken in.hand by the Ministry on arrival in London and given every opportunity of seeing for themselves the tremendous efforts that Britain exerted in her determination to win the war, and in this connection one of the Ministry's happiest -inspirations was the invitation to the overseas Press to send its representatives on a tour of the British war zone. The New Zealand delegates have now returned, and in a short but interesting narrative Mr. Georgk Fenwick, the senior member of fcho party, tells to-day of what he and his fellow-travellers have been privileged to witness. The tour has been well worth while, and affords a- further demonstration of the truth of the old axiom, "seeing is Imlieving." The delegates have had unique opportunities of seeing Britain at war. They have been alilo to form a first-hand estimate of Britain's immense industrial resources; they have conic .into personal contact with Their Majesties the King and Queen, leading statesmen, and other public men; they have seen the Grand Fleet; they have trodden the battlefield in the West on sectors where a few hours

before a sanguinary struggle had raged, and gauged at once the reality and tlis horrors of war. Again, they have had an opportunity of investigating political and economic questions—the Irish problem, the liquor traffic, women's emancipation, and so on. All this first-hand knowledge must be of definite valueto New Zealand as a corrective and an adjustment of the public point of view, exerted through the Press of the country, on Imperial and economic questions, contributing thereby to a fuller and more sympathetic understanding between the Old Country and her oversea dominions, and a closer fellowship in the perpetuation of British ideals and traditions.