The Sun 42 WYNDHAM STREET. AUCKLAND FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 1929 FAIR PLAY FOR POLITICIANS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 601, 1 March 1929, Page 8

The Sun 42 WYNDHAM STREET. AUCKLAND FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 1929 FAIR PLAY FOR POLITICIANS

OIR JOSEPH WARD lias considered it necessary to protest *J without any marked petulance against a lack of newspaper publicity for him and his Government. Indeed, the Prime Minister declared at Wellington yesterday that the United Government was not getting from the Press Association, or rather from its individual agents, such fair play as the new Administration was entitled to receive from an informative agency representing all shades of political opinion in the country. He cited two specific instances of apparently unfair neglect, but dwelt more emphatically with vexation on one; this being a notable occasion at the official opening of the electrified tunnel through the port hills at Lyttelton when the distributors of national news broadcast the fact that the Leader of the Reform Party received a great ovation, hut said nothing at all about the similar ovation given to himself as Prime Minister. Perhaps Sir Joseph’s grievance is more imaginary than real. It may be inferred as a certainty that there was no political malice in the omission of special reference to his splendid reception. The Press Association may he left officially to defend itself, but someone ought really to inform the Prime Minister that, just as there are different shades of political opinion in the country, so there is a diversity of shades in the value of news. And there was undoubtedly more news value in the fact that the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates received the great ovation he might not have got than in the obvious fact that Sir Joseph Ward experienced the cordial welcome he was certain to get. Then, as a meritorious trait of mob psychology, there is always a quicker sympathy with the vanquished, and it is good for mankind everywhere that it should he given pleasant expression. The victor at the worst has the joy of his triumph as a sweet and substantial consolation. In any case the grievance is so trivial in itself that it might well have been ignored by a triumphant statesman who must know that, in politics, “all is vanity and vexation of spirit.” On the general complaint that the Government has not been receiving the fair play in newspaper publicity to which it is entitled, it is difficult to reconcile Sir Joseph Ward’s protest with the actual experiences of his colleagues throughout the country. So far this year all of them have been enjoying the best time of their lives. Everywhere they have gone, and no other Ministry ever crowded so much jaunting within so short a period of initial power, they have been welcomed and treated with almost an embarrassing eagerness and appealing enthusiasm. One of the record number pf Ministerial trippers, indeed, has been compelled to work sixteen hours a day to overtake the rush of receptions and even has been tempted, under the strain of sheer exhaustion, to yawn in the pleading faces of friendly deputations. There never has been anything like it in the history of extravagant administrative touring of this attractive country. If politicians only could add to their pleasant experiences the tourists’ sport of niako shark and swordfish fishing the political life would be the life for every intelligent man. Surely, there could be no valid protest about the lack of publicity for the peripatetic United Government. Why, all the newspapers have been crowded with generous reports of its tours and small talk, while Press photographs of the administrators have made their faces as familiar as the changeless face of Rangitoto. If such publicity he insufficient and still unfair, both in measure and distinctive value, there is always a quick remedy to he considered, though it may be difficult to bring it into arresting practice. This is the possibility that Ministers may stop talking about what they hope to do and, in the silence of genius, begin to do something worth being talked about in terms of the highest praise. That once done, if done only once, the newspapers throughout the Dominion would crackle and bristle with headlines, news, and comment with something like ovational joy.

Politically, however, New Zealand is a backward country. Its politicians have not yet acquired the American art of broadcasting political wisdom or the quieter method of British politicians in having their oratory relayed by amplified telephones at profit for the Post Office to audiences so far apart as from Berwick-on-Tweed to Brighton. Mr. Baldwin, for example, is speaking this week simultaneously to eight different audiences. Then, there is the prospect that great politicians may yet make the “talkie-movies” a popular vehicle for the wide distribution of their gestures, grimaces and grievances. Meanwhile, the old-fashioned power of statesmen in forgetting things that are vain in the joy of constructive politics and great work would he given such an ovation as not even the most callow Press Association agent could overlook.