§ 24. Mr. LYNCHasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can tell the House what provisions are made with regard to censoring news destined to appear in the Australian Press; whether he is aware that news already published in London has again been subject to restriction before publication in Australia; and, if so, what are the public grounds on which such a course can be justified?
§ Mr. WALTER REAThe responsibility for carrying out Press censorship in Australia rests with the Commonwealth Government, which has entire discretion in the matter of judging what may properly be published in Australia.
§ Mr. LYNCHIs there any preliminary exercise of the censorship here previous to the news reaching the Censor in Australia?
§ Mr. WALTER REAI must ask the hon. Member to put down a question.
§ Mr. KELLAWAYI beg to ask the Solicitor-General a question, of which I have given him private notice, namely: Whether it is the rule of the Press Bureau that no article will be allowed to be published which purports to describe any operation of war which has taken place during the preceding five days, as the result of observations made within twenty miles of the front, or which has been compiled under circumstances which otherwise suggest a breach, in letter or spirit, of the prohibition against the presence of correspondents at the front; whether this Regulation has been suspended recently in favour of representatives of a certain group of newspapers; and, if so, whether it is proposed to grant a similar privilege to representatives of other papers?
§ The SOLICITOR-GENERAL (Sir Stanley Buckmaster)A Regulation to the effect mentioned in the hon. Member's question was issued by the Press Bureau on the 24th September, 1914. The notice was framed to meet the conditions then prevailing. For a long time, however, our troops have occupied a position which has been comparatively stationary and the rule has not been applied strictly. Recently matter has been sent in from a number of newspaper correspondents that might be interpreted as a violation of this rule, but in the present condition of affairs these articles are not mischievous and they have accordingly been passed. The rule is a very important one and has not been cancelled because the circumstances may change at any moment, and it would then be necessary to enforce it. No distinction has ever been drawn by this office between any one paper or group of papers and any other. All are treated alike.
§ Mr. KELLAWAYWill the right hon. Gentleman say that he is prepared to grant to the representatives of other papers the privileges at present granted to the representatives of Lord Northcliffe's papers?
§ Sir S. BUCKMASTERNo privilege whatever has ever been granted to any representative of Lord Northcliffe's papers by my office that has not been granted to all the other newspapers.
§ Mr. KELLAWAYIs my right hon. Friend able to speak for other Departments of the Government or for his own headquarters?
§ Sir S. BUCKMASTERCertainly.