OWI CHANGES ITS NAME

New Zealand Listener, Volume 13, Issue 328, 5 October 1945, Page 7

OWI CHANGES ITS NAME

Now International Information Service

ITH the end of the war, some services which the public have come to look upon as more or less permanent must cease work. One of these is the United States Office of War Information. But this agency will not go out of existence altogether. Under a changed name it will continue with its 16 millimetre films, film strips, and photographic displays. It will operate temporarily under the name of the Interim International Information Service, which is in the Department of State. It is expected that by the end of this year the change-over from the former Office of War Information to the Department of State will have been completed and the information activities from then on will be a permanent State function. In a recent broadcast, President Truman announced the abolition of the Office

of War Information. He stated that the OWI had made an outstanding contribution to victory. In its domestic activities it had performed an invaluable service in co-ordinating the Government’s wartime information. However, the nature of present-day foreign relations made it essential for the United States to maintain’ informational activities abroad as an integral part of, America’s foreign affairs. "This Government," said the President, "will not attempt to outstrip the extensive and growing information programmes of other nations; rather it wilt endeavour to see that other people receive a full and fair picture of American life and the aims and policies of the United’ States Government." Wide Range of Activity In New Zealand the Office of War Information has been the American counter. part, "in some respects, of the ne he Council which was brought before the New Zealand public recently by Sir Angus Gillan. A great deal of its work has been the distributing of newsletters — on a mass of subjects from astronomy to-war surgery, and operating a photographic service and feature articles for newspaper and periodical reproduction. Subjects covered have ranged through medicine, science, education, ifdustry, agriculture and commerce. As soon as it became known that the publications department was to close down, hundreds of letters were received

from all parts of New Zealand expressing regret. They have been sent by schools, colleges, doctors, hospitals, Government departments, and local bodies, who thanked the agency for its help. The mailing list of monthly newsletters reached the 5,000 mark. And the 16 mm. films (which have been shown free of charge) have been so popular that, up to a week or so ago, 170,000 people in New Zealand had seen them every month. Of all the subjects shown, the Why We Fight series was the most popular, 83,500 people having seen it to date. Future Programme There is no very definite information at the moment regarding future activities, but apparently the film section is to remain for some time, and the American Library in Wellington is also, of course, to carry on. The films are used by schools, colleges, public libraries, and social study groups. The authorities hope to enlarge the film section considerably and so continue a service which people have come. to regard as permanent. The information section of the Office of War Information activities, which has been supervised by Mrs. Zoe Jacobsen, has now been moved from American Legation quarters to the top floor of the U.S. Information Library building in Woodward Street, Wellington. Mrs. Jacobsen will continue to direct the distribution of the Legation’s 16 mm. films, film strips, and displays. i —