PRESS REPORTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 26 July 1929, Page 5

PRESS REPORTS

OF SPEECHES IN THE HOUSE PROTEST BY THE HON 11. ATMORE (By Telegraph) (From “The Mail’s" Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, 25th July. A protest was entered in the House of Representatives this afternoon in regard to the report published in a section of the Press of the speech delivered in the House last night by the Minister oj. Education (the Hon. li. Atmore). Mr G. C. Black (Motueka) asked the Prime Minister whether his attention had been drawn to the fact that there had been an almost entire suppression m regard to the reporting of the speech of the ■Minister of Education last evening. The speech, lie said, had been supported by facts and figures from official sources, and the speaker asked whether there was any control that could lie exercised in regard to the reporting of speeches. Mr Speaker: "The honourable gentleman is rather in a difficulty there. Wo are not supposed to take any notice.” Sir Joseph Ward replied that his attention had been called to the absence of anything like a fair report of the speech. Mr W. Parry (Auckland Central); “But that is not new, is it?" The Prime Minister said the speech was in reply to the member for MidCanterbury. Mr D. Jones (Mid-Canterbury): “But he did not reply to it." Sir Joseph; “It is very unfair.” Mr Parry: “That is what we have been saying for a long time.” Sir Joseph Ward said the speech, an important one, had been deliberately suppressed, and he referred to morning papers outside Wellington in which, ho said, it had probably been similarly treated. “I enter my protest,” lie said, “against discrimination on the part of the Press, even though it is opposed to the Government. We want nothing but what is fair. If the Minister of Education had been reported in full last night, and the member for Mid-Canterbury had been subjected to this treatment I would have entered a protest against it." He suggested that the Minister of Education should have copies of his speech printed by the Government printer, and circulated throughout the Dominion for the information of the people. - Mr Jones: “My speech was not replied to." Sir Joseph: “I do not accept the lion, gentleman' as being a judge. I sympathise with the Minister in the very shabby treatment he received." They must take the necessary steps to remedy the position.