NOT AN INTERVIEW

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 925, 19 March 1930, Page 1

NOT AN INTERVIEW

COMMODORE'S COMMENTS AT SAMOA “WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE’’ “The statement was published without my knowledge or authority,” said Commodore Geoffrey Blake, commander of H.M.S. Dunedin. today when questioned as to the interview , with him at Samoa in the course of which he commented vigorously on Samoan affairs. This interview', sent to New’ Zealand by a newspaper representative and telegraphed through the Dominion by the New Zealand Press Association, roused, a storm of criticism in political and Press circles. “Such an interview would have been entirely irregular,” Commodore Blake informed The Sun. “Naturally it was never intended as an official statement by me.” The Commodore explained that on occasions when the "Atlantic Fleet were at —-»^ e uvres he had been empowered to give information to the Press representatives with the fleet. On those occasions it had been definitely understood between himself and the English newspapermen that he would supply them with authoritative information, but that it was to be used as a guide for their writings and never as coming in either a personal or an official way from him. When dealing with the Pressman who accompanied the Dunedin, he followed this practice, never dreaming that the notes supplied by him would be used in the Press under his own name. “I am one who believes that the Press should be given the fullest possible information so that their news and articles will be correct,” added Commodore Blake. “On this occasion, as we had a Pressman with us, I simply saw to it that he had all the information I could give him. I believe that'this thing is the outcome of an unfortunate misunderstanding.”