INFLUENCE OF THE PRESS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3259, 3 July 1911, Page 7

INFLUENCE OF THE PRESS.

SPEECH BY SIR. JOSEPH WARD

A speech on the influence of the press in New Zealand was made by Sir Joseph Ward in London for the purpose of making a phonograph record. Sir Joseph said:—“The influence of the press depends first and mainly upon the education of the people it serves, and in New Zealand where illiteracy has almost entirely disappeared, every man, woman, girl and boy_ reads the newspapers. Moreover, New Zealand being still a very young country, with much less of that great network of communication by road and railway which prevails in Great Britain, the remoter parts of the Dominion are served oy weekly newspapers, which contain an account of all; that is most important that is happening both in our own country and in the outside world. More newspapers are sold in New Zealand in proportion to our population than anywhere else in the English-speaking portion of the British Empire, and consequently the influence of the press in New Zealand is profound. It becomes a daily guide, .philosopher, and friend of the whole population. Its influence its proportion to the influence of the platform, is consequently, very great, and the press of New Zealand, recognising the enormous sphere of influence its exercises, rises to a full recognition of its duty, and is as clean, wholesome, and intelligent as the press of any part of the Empire.”