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Salient: Victoria University Students' Paper. Vol. 29, No. 1. 1966.

Press act wrong

Press act wrong

Salient Reporter

The New Zealand Student Press Association actively opposed the passage of the News Media Ownership Act.

In a hasty telegraphic vote, the nine student newspapers joined in endorsing Salient's move to state NZSPA's opposition to the act.

But attempts to present submissions to the Statutes Revision Committee were blocked by the National Government's haste to get the measure back on the floor of the House for debate and passage.

The Student Press Association briefed counsel to appear on its behalf, but it proved impossible to prepare a case within the deadlines of the committee.

Student journalist John Harlow of Salient presented written and oral submissions and a petition. Student Press Association president Tony Haas held informal discussions with members of Parliament, including then Opposition leader Arnold Nordmeyer and National Party "rebel" Sir Leslie Munro.

Dr. M. Finlay, himself a former editor of the Otago student paper "Critic," welcomed the Student Press Association's intervention in one of his speeches.

Other student groups joined in opposing the measure, including the Victoria University branch of the National Party. VUWSA executive called on the Government to delay passage of the measure.

Written submissions were also made by Salient editor Hugh Rennie.