Australia

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 193, 23 January 1915, Page 5

Australia

THE CENSOR CRITICISED. A JUSTIFIABLE ATTITUDE. Sydney, January 22. The Herald, in a leader on the censors, after disclaiming any intention to 'attack Mr Pearcc or any of his stall details the administration and points out that the need is to get the Government and the public in closer touch through the press so that Australian aid to the Mother Country may be full and free. The press does not stand for irresponsible newsmongering. Unfortunately many persons insist that it does f?o* stand, and when clojied in authority they act towards the newspapers as if the latter, were mischief-makers. The press during the war has shown a deep, profound, and searching responsibility and has cheerfully accepted most of the restrictions necessary for rightly dealing with the position. In Australia there is a disposition to treat the public as a child and the press as its plaything. We get cables censored in London and again censored in Australia, as if the fountain authority of the war was here and not there New Zealand; an island, publishes without fear matter which is not available hero The censors in the Australian continent have been busy and focus their own news, and have grown reciprocally narrow War news is available in Melbourne which the Sydney papers are not given an opportunity to use. The paper demands consistency, and especially the public's right to judge between bad and good news. It concludes that the public has done its duty by going about its business, refraining from panic, and responding to the call for men to fight, but it must be treated as of. adult stature, and the press, as its watch-tower and bulwark, cannot be ignored and suppressed, except at a risk which no Government in • its senses will dare to take

THE AUSTRALIAN NAVY. ANOTHER DESTROYER LAID DOWN. Received 22, 10.30 p.m. Sydney, January 22. Mrs Pcarce laid the keel at the Cockatoo Dock of the destroyer Swan, sister ship to the Derwent. CARGOES ON ENEMY SHIPS. Received 23, 1.25 a.m. (Sydney, January 22. A conference of Australasian consignees of the German vessels interned in South African and Dutch East Indian poi'rjs is being held by the Chamber of Commerce, New Zealand being represented. lit' lias fbeen decided bp appoint a representative to proceed to .Java, authorised to take the necessary action to secure the release of the cargoes originally bound for Australia and New Zealand which are understood to be aboard various German and Austrian vessels in 't.lie several ports.

NO FAVORS FOR AMERICA.

Received 2, 10.30 p.m. Melbourne, January 22,

Replying to a deputation asking for the removal of high duties on American 'printing machinery, Mr Tudor said the Government could not help a country which would not help us.

WOMEN'S (PRACTICAL PATRIOTISM.

Received 22. 8.55 p.m. Sydney, January 22. Female teachers in public schools arc offering to undertake increased duties in order to release male teachers for military duty. LUTHERAN PASTOR'S ARREST. Received 22, 8.55 p.m. ' Adelaide, January 22. The authorities have arrested Mr Nickel, the Lutheran paster, Mit the charge is not disclosed. 1 A SCARCELY NEEDED DENIAL. k'TIHAY TTY„ VnVHXgnV 'S'K'H Received 23, 1.25 a.m. Sydney, January -22. Mr. Pearce has given an emphatic de*ial of the German-made stories regarding the alleged doings of Australian officers and their wives in Cairo, and the sinking of the warship Australia. He points out that no wives went with the Expeditionary Force, and that the authorities very recently had communication with tke warship, which reported "All well!"