Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 1, No. 21 October 5, 1938
The Press and Impartiality
The Press and Impartiality
Mr. W. J. Scott, lecturer in English at Training College, has recently conducted an investigation into the amount of space given by the "Evening Post" to speeches of Government and Nationalist representatives. Reports of Parliamentary debates were not included in the inquiry, which covered only the election campaign, thus making the numbers of speakers taking part almost equal. No letters in the correspondence columns were counted.
Mr. Scott found that between 22nd. August and 20th September the amount of space gives Government speakers totalled 1,726[unclear: ¾] inches. The Nationalist Party speakers were given 3,114[unclear: ¼] inches.
During this period Mr. Savage was given 140 inches (excluding statements on the international situation). Mr. Hamilton was given 208 inches.
Wellington Central: | |
Hon. P. Fraser | 17 inches. |
Mr. Will Appleton (Nationalist) | 20.6 inches. |
Wellington Easte: | |
Hon. R. Semple | 13 inches. |
Mr. W. L. Darker (Nationalist) | 17.7 inches. |
Wellington Suburbs: | |
Mr. H. E. Combs (Labour) | 13.8 inches. |
Mr. O. C. Mazengarb (Nationalist) | 17.3 inches. |
(Mr. Mazengarb's average, if his speeches outside his own electorate are included, is 24.2 inches per issue.)
Wellington South: | |
Mr. Howlett (Nationalist) | 14.5 inches. |
Mr. McKeen (Labour) | 13.1 inches. |
Wellington North: | |
Mrs. Knox Gilmer (Political species uncertain) | 18.2 inches. |
Mr. C. H. Chapman (Labour) | 14.5 inches. |
Wellington West: | |
Mr. R. A. Wright (See Mrs. Knox Glimer) | 10.2 inches. |
Mrs. Stewart (Labour) | 14.7 inches. |
Up to the 29th September, Mrs. Stewart had been reported only three times against Mr. Wright's eight times, and the total space given her was 44.25 inches compared with Mr. Wright 81.5 inches.
The accuracy of these figures is vouched for. You can draw your own conclusions.