SIR GEORGE GREY ON JOURNALISM.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2617, 20 April 1889, Page 1 (Supplement)

SIR GEORGE GREY ON JOURNALISM.

•Spkakino at the presentation in Auckland toMrti. M. Ueod, Sir George Grey is reported to hiivo said :—ln the prosont state of the world, it was, he believed, the duty of every citizen to do his best to recognise the merits of those journalists who do work for the public good. (Applause.) In point of fact, if they considered that the news of the world was known to ua almost within a few hours after it was known to the inhabitants of those countries in which the events recorded had happened, and if they considered that the journalist had it in his power greatly to form public opinion, he thought they would all say that ability of the very highest order was required for that profession—(applause)—and that honesty of the very highest class was necessary, and integrity al;-o, so that no feeling of friendship, no party feeling, or any friendship which he "might indulge in his own heart for particular causes, must prevent the journalist from doing what was right. (Cheers.) Those journalists who laboured to keep the public in the right—whose lives were a continued series of mental labour day by day ; it seemed to him that these men occupied somewhat the position that the ancient Roman orators did in the Forum, directing public opinion—in fact, thev occupied a much higher position, because they formed public opinion on every event that took place throughout the world. Therefore, when they parted from a man who did what he sincerely believed to be right in the path of public duty, and who in the relations nf prnate life had been most kindly to all, let them part from him with every expression of goodwill which might render the natural abilities he possessed as useful in his new field of duty as they had been here. What they were doing for Mr Reed, let them do on every occasion to every journalist in this city who might fairly deserve public applause for the integrity and ability with which ho acted, and directed the paper over which he presided. (Applause.) A great change had como in the position of journalists within the past few years, and they were now the leading members of any community; their power was greater than that of any single member of Parliament ; and if they used these powers well and justly—working for a small remuneration, he feared, compared with their merits, or with what they might earn at the liar or in other professions which they could have chosen—than their efforts should be recognised ill the piost upeu aud douided maimer.