CENSORSHIP IN NEW ZEALAND

Southland Times, 16 October 1942, Page 5

CENSORSHIP IN NEW ZEALAND

LACK OF POSITIVE PUBLICITY (P.A.) WELLINGTON, October 15. Reference to the censorship in New Zealand was made in the House of Representatives today during the debate on the Opposition’s no-confidence motion. Mr J. A. Lee (Dem. Lab., Grey Lynn) said it was not with the negative censorship that they should find fault, but with die lack of positive publicity. He thought the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association had made that point in its resolution. There was need for a publicity department to tell the public the good stories available to be told from day to day, and he believed the Press was prepared to play its part in that. The Minister of Supply, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, said that the action taken by the director of publicity regarding information about the strike had not resulted in a blackout. The newspapers had been asked not to publish matter which would intensify the difficulty. It was not a prohibition of publication and a great deal of matter had been published throughout the country. Nonpublication of information about shortages had been criticized, but that was necessary because as soon as there was information about a shortage there was panic buying. , ± The Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes (Nat., Hurunui) said Mr Fraser’s references to what Mr Holland had done had been a bitter attack. Mr Holland could not remain in the War Cabinet when he was treated in such a way. It was more than anyone could stand. Mr Forbes said he could not understand the hostility of the Prime Minister and other members of the Cabinet to Mr Holland. It almost appeared as if they wanted to drive him out.