LOCAL BODY PRIVILEGES

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10691, 10 August 1912, Page 5

LOCAL BODY PRIVILEGES

AN IMPORTANT QUESTION. 1 THE PUBLICATION OF REPORTS. < The following letter from tlie Editor of the Wairarapa Age was read at last night's meeting cf the Masterton Trust Lands Trust: — "To tho Chairman, Masterton Trust Lands Trust.. Sir. —We should be pleased to know if the publication of the report of a sub-committee of your Trust before it has come before the Tuust as a body has your endorsement. We may say that, so far as we are aware, such a practice is unheard-of in New Zealand, and we should be sorry to think that a well-conducted body like the Masterton Trust Lands Trust should view it with approbation. We are led to approach you in this matter in defence of a well-recognised privilege of the Press, and of public bodies." Mr R. Krahagen said that he, as chairman of tho Trust, did not authorise the publication of the report in question, and considered that discourtesy was shown members of the Trust in connection with the matter. Mr D. Caselberg considered that the .publication of the report, before it came before the Trust, was a.distinct breach of confidence. Mr C. E. Daniell did not think that any discourtesy towards individual members of the Trust was intended by the committee in publishing the report. He thought that good, healthy rivalry between newspapers tended to do good. _ 1 Mr O. C. Pragnell said that he had never heard of such a happening as that of publishing a report before it came before the body concerned. He did not know what would happen if other public bodies acted in a similar manner. He said that he did not blamed Mr Robinson, the chairman'of ; the committee, wlio a few meetings ago bad stated that all business and reports should come before the Trust before publication. He (Mr alwavs favoured Trust business being published as much good resulted therefrom, but in this case be considered that great discourtesy bad been shown to the members of the Trust. Ho considered that there should be a standing order to prevent a similar happening in future. All reports should come before the. Trust, before being sent to tho Press. Mr Pauling thought that a« the report in question was not before the meeting the matter should not be dealt with. On the motion of Mr W. H. .T.'k-V----son, it was decided to adiourn discussion of the matter until the report of the committee came before the Trust.