The Globe. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1875.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 395, 17 September 1875, Page 2

The Globe. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1875.

An interesting discussion took place in the House of Representatives the other evening on the second reading of Telegraph Messages Copyright Bill. As we have not the Bill before us we are not in a position to pronounce an opinion upon the merits of this particular Bill. Judging from the manner in which it was opposed by several gentlemen interested in newspaper property, we may conclude that it does not satisfy the requirements of journalism in New Zealand. It was spoken of as a Bill to give a monopoly to the existing “Press Telegraph “ Agency” to the injury of private enterprise. If such is the nature of the measure, we hope it will be rejected by the House. We have been compelled on more than one occasion to find fault with the manner in which this institution is managed, and we would be sorry to see any legislation which would result in confirming the monopoly which the agency at present unfortunately enjoys. But several members did not confine their remarks exclusively to the provisions of the Bill before the House. One member especially took exception to any legislation whatever in the direction proposed, on the ground that it .vould give those newspapers which paid for late telegraghic intelligence a monopoly in that news. It was urged that such a privilege would he dangerous, and should not be granted without very grave consideration. We are at a loss to understand why newspaper proprietors are to be made an exception to all other classes of the community. It is well known that in the present day the success of a newspaper depends to a large extent upon its telegraphic intelligence.: Such news costs a large sum of money. Why, then, should a journal which spends large sums in that direction, be deprived of the benefit of that expenditure? An unscrupulous opponent might easily appropriate such information and publish it u lew hours after it appeared at a less price, and thus prevent an enterprising journal from

reaping any reward for its outlay.' Such conduct would be as much an act of theft as that of the pickpocket or the midnight robber. Honest journals which paid for their telegrams would raise no objection to a law requiring them to produce evidence when called upon, that they obtained their telegraphic intelligence in a lawful manner. That such a law can be enforced is proved by the fact, that in Victoria it has been in operation. Only a few weeks ago the Argus obtained a verdict against an up-country newspaper, for publishing the cable telegrams obtained by the “ Press Association.” There is no urgent demand for the immediate passing of such a measure in this colony ; but when cable communication is established, which it will be in £(11 probability in another "year from now, some such .-Act will be required. When tjhe Newu Zeal and cable is laid;-the newspapers of the colony which wish to maintain their position will be forced to go to a large expenditure in procuring daily cable intelligence from Europe, and the Legislature of the colony will be doing an act of very great injustice if it refuses to protect them in their enterprise. In that case the public must inevitably suffer, for no newspaper can continue to spend large sums of money in telegrams, if an unscrupulous opponent is permitted to appropriate the news immediately after it is published.

There is one feature in the construction of our public buildings- which architects are very apt to overlook — that is the means of rapid and easy exit in cases of sudden emergency. It is not necessary to refer to the many instances where most disastrous consequences have followed a sudden alarm raised in a crowded meeting. It is perfectly childish to say that if people would only retain their reason on such occasions no serious harm would follow. We know that people do nothing of the kind. The instinct of self-preservation overcomes all other considerations, and the result is generally a wild rush to the doors, and then all the harrowing scenes with which the readers of newspapers are so familiar.

An inspection of our churches and public buildings in Christchurch will convince any one that their means of exit is far too limited. Nor only so ; the doors are generally so swung as to cause a complete block were a sudden rush made for them. We call attention to this subject because we are particularly liable to have an alarm suddenly raised. Our churches and other public buildings are nearly all constructed of wood, and are therefore more liable to catch fire than those built of stone or brick. We are also liable at any moment to shocks of earthquake, which are even more alarming to the majority of the population than fire itself. No public place of amusement should be licensed which does not thoroughly provide for such contingencies, and the wardens-of our yarious churches should also take steps in a similar direction. , ; :