N.Z PRESS CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 25 February 1920, Page 4

N.Z PRESS CONFERENCE

SPEECH BY PREMIER

WELLINGTON, Feb. 24. The Prime Minister was present at the opening of the annual conference of the Newspaper Propriofvi"-’ Association. He was welcomed by the President of the Association, (Mr P. Selig), Mr Massey said he realised the importance of gatherings of pressmen. The Imperial Conference of 1919 had proved a very valuable influence in the cultivation of sound Imperialism. Ho believed those New Zealand journalists who attended the conference, and who subsequently) wrote from an Imperial standpoint in their newspapers, had been a factor in providing a basis of the' fine effort made during the war. New Zealand pressmen had not much to learn from the pressmen of the United Kingdom. He would say in this connection that he did not like the idea of newspaper combinations for political purposes on the lines made familiar by the Nortlicli e press. It had been the boast of men who controlled the Nortcliffe press they they could make and unmake governments ,and influence the course of political life in England. That was not a. desirable state of affairs, and it was not good for the Empire. It was true that the Northcliffe newspapers had done some very good work during the war, particularly during 1916, but the direction of public affairs by newspapers was not a right thing. The cable news service from Britain to New Zealand, Mr Massey asserted, was quite good, though occasionally it admittedly contained traces of “inspiration,” but tlio news sent from New Zealand to Britain was inadequate in 'quantity and poor in quality. Often it was ludicrous. Australia was securing a great do al of publicity in the British press through well organised channels, and Canada tho same. New Zealand seemed left out in the cold. It would he necessrv if publicity could not ho obtained in any other way to arrange for tho despatch to Britain of a weekly news cablegram from New Zealand. This news could then ho handed by tho High Commissioner to any nowspapers that would publish it. There should he no political colour about such messages and ho would prefer to have them sent by the press. 1