EMPIRE PRESS CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 September 1918, Page 4

EMPIRE PRESS CONFERENCE.

BETTER NEWS FACILITIES, VISITORS ENTERTAINED. Kftcolved September 1, 5-5 p.m. London, August 31. Lord Burnham presided at the Empire Press Union Conference with the Australian, New Zealand, and South African missions. It was unanimously resolved that the union shouhT use its iutluenca to secure better, quicker, and cheaper facilities for the dissemination of news throughout the Entire, and suc'h cooperation as the Government may giva should bo limited to assisting in the provision of such facilities- Lord Burnham and Mr. W. J- Sowden (Australian), and other speakers insisted that if an Imperial news service were arranged, newspapers must "he left to make their own arrangements for obtaining news The Dominions would not stand a Gov-ernment-controlled news service. • Tile conference also resolved that the union should use its influence to induce (ho newspapers of the United Kingdom to give more attention to news from the Dominions in the interest of the Empire. Presiding at a subsequent luncheon, at which 200 were present, including Sir Thomas Mackenzie and the AgentsGeneral and representatives of all the Australian and New Zealand interests, Lord Burnham proposed the toast of the visitors, and said that the Home press was full of respect and admiration for the Dominions' press, which inspired the Dominions' future, a futare that lies with democracy, which must be. educated and choose its leaders well and policy wisely. In order to do this, they must have the best possible service of the world's news. Therefore, newspapers must not be crippled by any restrictions on the calbled news, which should he allowed the greatest pos* »iblo freedom in regaard to cabling. Sir J. Fairfax said ho recognised the necessity of some war-time censorship, bui not £0 much as. we were getting. The delegation's visit had been very helpful, enabling them to see face to face what was going on near tTie seat of war. Mr.. Charles Earle (editor of the New Zealand Dominion newspaper) also replied, and said the press of Britain owes a duty to tht> public in the matter ofl educating it regarding the conditions obtaining in the different parts of the Empire. Unless the press takes a lead in that direction, there were possibilities of misunderstanding and future troubles •He was gratified with the trip Home, which revealed to delegates what they previously had been unaible to appreciate namely, the marvellous spirit which enabled 'Britain to carry on the war.