UNFAIR ATTACK

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 465, 24 February 1933, Page 5

UNFAIR ATTACK

MOTIVES OF PRESS REPLY TO SELF INTEREST CHARGE BY MR. COATES. EMPIRE PRESS UNION. Syxnpathetic x'eference was xxxade to the death of Sir Robert Donald, the eminent British journalist, who was chairman of the Ernpire Press Union for many years hy Mr. Henry Horton, President of the New Zealand braneh of . the Union, in his address to the annual meeting of membex*s to-day, and a motion of condolence with Lady Donald was passed. Mr. Horton said it was gratifying that in the this rnost difficult year they had been able to raaintain their local branch in a stro:ixg and satisfactory position. He had been asked, as chairman, to join the general committee of the advertising and rnar- | keting exhibition a.t C'lympia, Lonj don, next July, and- he had accepted i the invitatioxx. There was one matter j to which he felt it his duty to refer, I namely, the free criticism that was j made editorially by most of the j papex-s against the raising of the ex- | change rate to 25 per cent. The j Government thought that it was tbe j best policy to increase the exehange, and the press. as usual, gave their j candid criticism of this propasal. j Unfair Atlack. But the Government, fi.adinsf their proposal not so popular a.s they expectecl, very unfairly on February 3 attacked the motives oir the papers in speaking as they had done. > Mr. Coates whexx speaking on the Bank Indexxxnity Bill iri the House, had inferred that the almost u;ianimous press condemnation of the Government's action in x'aising the exI change rate was ressnted, and that the faet that the newspapers were closely and xxxaterially affected by the exehange rate had caxised thern to be actuated hy nxotives of self-interest. Honest Opinion. Mr. Coates unquestionably was right in saying that the newspapers were adversely affected by the exehange rate, hut many of the newspapers perceived that practically all other bxxsinesses were equally affected. They honestly came to the conclusion that they could not support the increase in exehange. Ple "(Mr. Horton) had frequently known that editors had the support of their proprietors in advocating policies against the fxnaneial interests of the papers whexx they believed they were serving the public good. The newspapers were jealous of the high reputation that had been established hy the press of this country. and he believed that a cruel injustice was done to the newspapers when it was suggested that the criticism of the increase in exehange had anything behind it but a sincere desire to achieve what was bsst for the national interest. He hoped the press was ahove imputing unworthy motives to the Goveriiment in its eifart'.s to secure the national welfare. He also hoped that the Government had more respect for the press than to think (hat the strong criticism against the exehange was inspired by selfish-i ness. The chairman's remarks were warmly endorsed by the meeting. Messrs. Hugo Freeth (Christchurch Press), Ronald Horton (Axxckland Herald) and Will Appleton (Advertising Expert) were elected assoeiate members. Mr. H. Horton was reelected president and Mr. Ronald Horton secretary. The sitting members of the committee were re-elected. The chairman paid a tribute to the services rendered by Mr. G. C. Codlin as hon. secretary of the New Zealand branch, and conveyed to him the unanimous wishes of all present for his greatest success in his new and responsible post on the staff of the Sydney Morning Herald. Mr. Codlin suitably aclcnowledged the tribute, and assured the meeting of his continued interest in the union.