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TRUTH, SUNDAY, JUNE 28, IS42Prejudices. Will2399MENZIES’ ROUSING PLEA FOR PRESS RIGHT TO CRITICISEDEFENDS RIGHTS OF PEOPLEr[''HE editor or controller of a newspaper has a perfect right to criticise, to praise or to blame, according to the personal opinion of his directors or shareholders. He has a right of free thought and free speech with which will interfere at our own risk.R. G. MENZIES, said thisnight in a striking broadcast talkweMRononFriday'TheFreedom Of Press—the second of a series, The Four Freedoms.Mr. Menzies declared that if our diet is to become one of half-truths and prejudices, and unfounded comment, either in Parliament or the Press, we shall become slaves.He emphasised, however, that while he believed in a free Press, and in no way undervalued its importance, he did not believe in a privileged Press.with Mr. Brown, the butcher, and“J HAVE never been able to accept (he idea that newspapers have some detached existence apart from that of the human beings who conduct them.” Mr. Menzies said.‘Newspapers are as a rule owned either by one man or a few men; .sometimes with long family traditions; or by a public company with perhaps many investors. They are business enterprises. conducted with marked efficiency, gathering and selling news and advertisements, and seasoning the whole with comment and criticism.“All this is quite proper, even though it has some obvious modern features which are to be regretted.“But the right of free thought and free speech of the newspaper controller is one which he sharesMr. Robinson, the bricklayer. He can have no privilege beyond Brown and Robinson: he isequally subject to the laws of defamation.•If the press, then, is to see its function in modern society aright, it will dwell on its responsibilities las indeed I know its best men do». as well as upon its rights, valuable and essential the ugh those rights undoubtedly are. What are these responsibilities? Last week I spoke with repugnance ot the ever-present political temptation, particularly when the topical, lash of the critic is still smarting, to suppress or issue orders to tht newspapers, there is at least an equal temptation on the part of the newspapers to claim the right to suppress the politician, to ignore him ifhis views are unsatisfactory: not toleave him out because he says nothing worth saying, but to leave him out because his views do not suit the paper s policy.Free and Fair Criticism“IT IS freethe duty of a newspaper, which claims the right of criticism, to publish enough of both sides to make its own views and criticisms intelligible and fair. It is a commonplace of the law of libel that comment must be not only fair, but made on facts. The point is vital to the survival of the Press as a free institution.Thai this is not always recognisedwill be clear when I fell you. lor example, that for months after mv resignation from (he Prime Ministership. one newspaper, evidently carrying its hostility beyond defeat, never mentioned my name except in connection with some entirely false reoort of my alleged political activities.There was no question of unfortunate error, nor had I become, as far as I know, suddenly and completely mentally defective: the campaign was deliberate and sustained and has not yet died away.Now that is a mere personal example to illustrate something quite important. The damage done to me is of minor significance. What is really significant is that a newspaper following such practice is far more threatened by its own inherent misconception of its function than by the activities o! its enemiesThere is another tendency among some newspapers to depart from the old and rood journalistic tradition. That tradition was to report fairly and without comment and separately to criticise strongly and if necessary, bitterly. The public mind was informed by the reporter and persuaded by the leader-writer.“But there is today a perceptible tendency to mingle report with comment so that you do not know whether you are reading what Brown said or what young Smith, the reporter, thinks of what Brown said.Facts As Freedom’s BasisAbove jill. let's pet back to the facts, the whole of the facts, and nothing but the facts.* as the true basis ©I intelligent freedomIn time of war these questions, so far from disappearing, become particularly acute. The power of censorship offers great temptation to political administrators. The eager-' ness of millions of people for the latest news, and perhaps excitement: the natural tendency to look lor scapegoats arter every defeat, temptations to the Press.It is unfortunate that both Parliament and Press cannot regard themselves as engaged in a vital joint | enterprise in which each must bf fear-; less but restrained: in which each isdom will show that they can march side by side to a battle where both must win if either is to survive.”ONLY WOMAN WAR WRITER HEREMELBOURNE, Saturday. — Mrs. aTX Leonore Lucas, only woman correspondent accredited to General Headquarters in the South-West Pacific. attended her first Press Conference at Headquarters today.She is believed to be the* third woman in the world to be accredited to the U S. Army. Her husband is Mr. W. E. Lucas, himself an accredited correspondent He representskpoked to lor Bwnt nidcment . in which lhp ll0ndon' -Dally Express.each should look to discharge its own function without seeking to control or discredit Ihe other.•■In this way authority and frre-Mrs Lucas will represent the Overseas News Agency and will do freelance work for American papers «*ncJ magazines.MR. R. (i. MENZIES.—“I believe ineast talk ona free Press. Friday night.he said in his broad ■.iPLEA FOR OUTLOOKREALISTICON WARAUCKLAND, Saturday.—“We must quit complimenting ourselvesworld thaton our capacity to ‘take it,' we have the capacity to dish itBrigadier-General Hurley. Cum- He declared that mandcr of U.S. Army in New Zea- tention was being land said this today at a civic reception at Christchurch.He made an urgent plea that we should realise the stark realities of the war situation and get on with the job of winning before planning postwar world reorganisation.We mast quit relying on Chiahg Kai-shek and Stalin to win the war Jor us—we ourselves must attack, defeat and destroy our enemies, he said.and show theout.»»Reporting ot this kind L not reporting at all. It is misleading: it con confer no privilege and excite no respect That last observation is important. A critic, to carry weight, must be respected. For a man to be respected, he must respect others. A free press must not set itself up to be the master of the people, for in a democratic community the people should prefer the masters they have themselves chosen to those who merely appoint themselves. In other words, a free Press must not seek to maintain its freedom at the expease of popular freedom and popular self-government.In dealing with men and affairs, the newspaper which claims tree speech and opinion as of the ver stuff of our liberty—as indeed they are—will no mure be restrained merely by the laws of defamation than honest men are merely by the policeman: it will be restrained by I hat sense of responsibility which ever should attach to great power.For the Press has great power, and inevitably so. In a democratic world great power destroys itself only when it seeks to become tyranny.And 50. let's have a lree Press and let's have free readers whoM letters will be published, even though hostile. Let's have honest and tearless criticism of politician by Press and of Press by politician, and let each be heard.Dramatic Turn In Lane Divorce\ FTKR a 2( days’ hearing ex-* tending from November 10 last year. Mr. Justice Bonney on Friday prepared to deliver his judgment in the I-ane v. I.ane divorce case.But the marathon suit, which was brought by 35-year-old Mrs. Olive Emily Lane (formerly Blunder!) against her husband. Constable James Miller Lane, of Cosford. in which she alleged cruelty, had not yet run its course.Indeed, if the allegations made by the husband's counsel (Mr. K. M. Stonham) are supported by evidence, the ease is hkelv to provide further fireworks before it ends.Stating that his client now alleged condonation since the hearing. Mr. Stonham asked leave to amend the petition, and prevailed on the judge to withhold his judgment until he had heard particulars of the alleged condonation.The new aspects of the case will be dealt with on Monday.the people's at-g distracted from problems essential to winning the war by time-consuming debates about how to reorganise the world alter the war.We must have plans for the future. We now have an Atlantic Charter and the ‘Four Freedoms' as a basis for a union of all free people; but first things come first,” he .si«id.At present we should devote ail our minds, all our sflength, and nil our courage to defeat our enemies. All the angels in Heaven, and all the patriots on earth singing and praying for one of these splendid new after-war plans will have no avail if we don't defeat the Axis in battle. All objectives will be lost if we lose this wav.This is lota) war and those who shirk arc breaking faith with the .soldier who dies in battle. To win we must unite and work and fight.RATIONCOUPONCHANGESA LTERATIONS in Ihe rationing scale covering certain items of clothing were announced yesterday by the Rationing Commission.To be included under the industrial scale arc the following items: Shut or coat of white cesarine or cotton duck for wear in handling food-three coupons.Trousers of white cesanne or coiton duck for wear in handling food-three coupons.Dorset cloth is not coupon-free unless made upCarrying coat for infants p classed as infant’s overcoat.Riding breeches, when issued a* uniform of policeman or similar Government employees, classed as •'uniform trousers”—three coupons.Coupons must be surrendered for tea towels and sheets which are tut but unhemmed.Leather slippers with lamb's wool lining '.still attached to the leather) are clashed as slippers, non-wc©!-len The Rationing Commission also announced yesterday Dial all professional or amateur organisations producing plays, opera, light opera, revues, ballets, pageants, concerts, circuses or films, and also all hire costume companies, will haw the supply of their usual amount of costumes and materials curtailed.Special permits to purchase requirements will only be issued upon application to the Deputy-Direct or o* Rationing.People hiring costumes or matniali for stage purposes will not requite a permitNO LET-UP IN SMOKES” CUTVO extra supply oi tobacco wjjj available to consumers m J.iibev —same basis as thethethe Minister for Tismf Senator Keane.it will be on June supply.and Customs, yesterdayHe said that the supply position m regard to leaf had not improved but he was still hopeful that stocks w.ciuid be replenished to a certain thgree soon.Special provision would continue io be made for personal needs only of the- defence forces and munitions fac tories' operatives. A quantity wcuid also be set aside to cater for requirements of areas which had gained ,n population because of the establishment of defence or allied industries.AMI'S motBEST DEFEHCEMlHsr*m*L TROUBLESOUR AIR POWER GROWS STEADILY\| ELBOURNE. Saturday—“Every-where I went I saw new evidence of Australia's steadily growing air power. the Minister for Air (Mr. Urakeford) said on his return today from a hurried but extensive tour of Allied Air Force stations and bases in the Southern area.Among other stations, he Inspected the most extensive air base in Australia.A huge undertaking is rapidly being added to the strength of Australia.'' Mr. Drakeford said. The keenest interest is being displayed, and recruits are being trained rapidly and efficiently.“At training and operational bases, everyone from the commanding officer down was on his toes, anxious to get the course completed and t© get to grips with the enemy.Although very pleased with Iherapid development of these facilities. the Minister warned that they were by no means complete. A great deal more had to be done, he said.CHEMISTS,«
Newspaper Details
Sydney Truth
Sydney, New South Wales, AU
Sun, Jun 28, 1942
Page 16
Full Page
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Anonymous
USA 24 May 2023
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