The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 1885.

Thames Star, Volume XVI, Issue 5079, 25 April 1885, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 1885.

Dobifg the present defence scare, it is not onlj desirable bat necessary that we should be fully prepared, as fat as we can, be to meet any emergency arisiog, but we moat decidedly object to the aridity with which newspaper reportera—special and general—grasp and disseminate all the details of works which should certainly be done to a rery great extent sub rosa. Doubtless it is most laudable from a reporting point of ricw, and may be gratifying to the public to read what ii

being done on their behalf by goheroua Governments, but every motion of those J who have the colony's protection in hand, 'it is .Dot necessary to make public properly. Much unseemly haste in publishI ing such items appears to be indulged in by many leading as well aa second rate journals in the colony. The special cor respondent, fixed at the seat of Government, needs as much discretion as a Minister almost, at such a time as this, yet we regret to say the important post is filled, as a rule, by a sacking pressmansucking from more than one point of view. Every scrap of news which ho, ever ready, pencil in hand, can "jot down " hie does, and this is wired to some responsible journal, duly published ; and, as in the present case, it may more than likely be to the disadvantage of the colony, it should be stopped. The suppression of informs* tion is, of course, a thing to be severely condemned, but at certain seasons, and under exceptional circumstances, such a thing is necessury. The eager reporter grasps with a hungering hand every item within bis reach, and uses no thought whether these matters would be wisely published or not ; this is no business of the reporter. But ihe judicious editor should exercise > little more discretion, or, going to the source, the Minister or officer supplying the mercurial reporter with information should exercise more caution in gratifying the' enquiring mind of the übiquitous pressman. So long as this system obtains, every movement of the colonies in the matter of defence will be published \ to the world; and those interested in obtaining-the knowledge of how and where our'defences He, can, without the aid of a special agent, be fully informed of the precautions taken by us for our own protection. The State supervision over the Press exercised in many European countries does not by any means produce a healthy state of affairs, but seeing the indiscreet journalism prevalent now, one would almost think that, in troublous times, were Ministers or officials not discreet enough to keep those things which should be departmental secrets inviolate, the appointment of a newspaper supervisor were—for general safety— necessary. It is very'well that the people should be assured; and re-assured of their immunity from danger, but when the colony is providing itself with means of resisting attack, and endeavoring to move itself beyond the pale of danger, the measures taken should not be' published to the world, and an opportunity given to invaders to take precautions against those very actions taken for their repulsion. It would be almost as 1 well to put a buoy over a submarine mine, with the placard on it, "Don't come here." The mere word defence is a motkery when prying individuals give an insight into the method adopted, and publish it to the jrorld. It does not seem sufficient in the. to be able to state that Auckland is in a state of defence, but they must publish full and particular descriptions of how she is so. The behaviour is not only puerile, but deserving of the severest censure from the Government, and although we do not believe in any Government or other interference with the Press, we decidedly think that irrational journalism at such a time as the present should receive a check.