Press Attacks

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 73, 13 April 1937, Page 9

Press Attacks

h— Press AssociaKon.)

FREEDOM MUST BE PRESERVED Ministers Accused of "Squealing" MR. HARGEST'S WARNING

(By Telegrap!

AUCKLAND, Last Night. Describing the recent attacks on the newspapers by Ministers as "squealing," Mr. J. Hargest, M.P. for Awarua, in an address to supporters of the National party at Remuera to-night, warned his hearers to be on their guard against the curtailment of the liberty of the Press which, he said, seemed to be in preparation. Responsible visitors to New Zealand, said Mr. Hargest, had often said the newspapers of the Dominion stood comparison in fairxnindedness and moral tone with any in the world. In all his life before he had nevlr) thought there was any danger of their being muzzled. However, if statements by the Minister of Industries andi Commerce and Minister of Publie Works. and the veiled threat by the Prime Minister just before leaving New Zealand meant anything, they did suggest! that the Government proposed to put some restriction upon the Press. '"These people now in power love, jpublicity in the Press," continued the jspeakor, "and squeal if they do not. ■ get it. Not long ago Mr. Sullivan, ■visited Southland and was hospitably, treated by a coqimunity which tookf pride in hospitality. A full and fair statement of his aetiyities was publish-> ,ed by the newspapers but just before his departure in an address to the Railwaymen's Union he made an attack on the Press which he accused of beingunhelpful to the Government and merely indulging in criticism. One of the ;local papers next day pointed out that in the course of three days it had printed eleven culumns of matter about Mr. Sullivan 's doings and a consideriable part of the copy had been supplied Iby the Minister hbnself. (Laughter.) "This squealing — jto use a vulgar ! term — is not hpplieabie to all the Ministers," added Mr. Hargest. "Hon P. , Fraser visited the district. He gave ua ja very learned address and opened a jhospital. He went away with an enihanced prestige." The speaker went on to quote the reported utterance by Hon, R. Semple:; i"I have no wish to be a dictator, but if :I were my heavy hand would reach oufc: ifirst to the Press." 1 "This,*' he commented, "is from *| Minister who has had more publicityj than anyone." (Laughter.) Then a week ago in Auckland we have an attack by a public servant — a gentleman who runs the commercial broadcasting station 1ZB-. He has had more publicity than any other private person in New Zealand. He is a master oi publicity. He has had every opportunity to use it and he claims to have done ? so effectively in the last election. Ia ,this particular talk he dealt with liis, subjoct with an utter and entire absencei of restraint and good taste. "It looks as if we are being prepared; for an attack upon the Press. Mr Hargest then quoted the Prime ;Minister's complaint that he was getting, worse treatment from the Auckland^ newspapers than anywhere else in New Zealand. I have never heard of any; Prime Minister who had so much publicity as Mr Savage had on his recent tour," he said. "I am not complaining, but there were columns full of his doings. Before his departure Mr Savage had uttered a veiled threat against the Press and it was to be hoped the public was aware of the danger. The policy of the newspapers had been to give the Government fair play and all the publicity to which it was entitled. They had not pledged themselves to agree with everything the Government did. Why should they. The four persons he had mentioned had all suggested that if the papers did not behave themselves somejthing was going to happen in some jother place. ' ""We are a tolerant people," said Mr Hargest in conclusion, "but there is a i limit to our patience. Ifj after 18. months, this Government cannot get what they want by their presentmethods and have to go in for such utterances, it is time for us to wake up and ,be watching our iiberties," i