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Press Attitude to Labour Relaxes

"There has been a change of attitude on the part of at least some newspapers in this country," Mr. Nordmeyer told Congress.

"They are more objective in their attitudes, more fair in space than was the case in the past." he said. "I would hope that attitude would remain."

Mr. Nordmeyer's discussion of Press coverage and comment came after he charged that the National party had far greater funds to spend on campaign advertising than the Labour party does.

"No one has ever told how much the National party spends on an election campaign," he said. "It must be a very large sum indeed."

The Labour party, he said, was able to spend about £16,000 on national advertising in a general election. The proportion of electors influenced by a difference in amount of advertising could not be assessed, he said.

"But if the National party has an advantage in this field." he said, "it is even more true that the presentation of news and views is even more in favour of the National party."

Mr. Nordmeyer then commented on what he regarded as an improvement in objectivity of editorial comment and fairness of news handling by some papers. He did not name any specific publications.

But, he added, "the heavy weight of newspapers is opposed to the Labour party and a Labour government."

"It is amazing that a Labour party achieves what it does at election time considering the way the dice is loaded against it," Mr. Nordmeyer said.

As he was moving on to his next point, an interjector in the back of the hall shouted: "What about the worker?"

The audience chuckled, and Mr. Nordmeyer responded: "Are you speaking of the newspaper of that name?" A roar of laughter followed.