The Secretary General. of the Douncit also placed his views and fal vice at the disposal of the Com-ite Mr. Havard acted as Vice-Chair-pian of the Comnittee Terms of Refevente-—The Terms of Reference were as follow:—enguite into and report on! jays and means. which may' be de-Mised for supplying the public with Holler and better information upon imuunicipal matters."
The inaugural meeting of the Gommittee was held on May 18 iven Brig. Gen, E. B. Macnaghten, ©.M.G., D.3.0,, Chairman of Coun: ci, "convened "the Committee, a otinced the Terms of Reference, and requested the Committee to bear! @specially in mind two points—frst, tthe Council and Ratepayers' decision Against "adiaion of Press repre:
ives to Council and Committee second, the special imattached by the Council to asity for advice relative to in the Chinese Pre Assurance was given by the Coun 'a's representative on the Committee that the Council would wel-advice on publicity matters in the widest sense, even boyerd the Tatitude given in the Terms of Reference.
Admission of Press (0 Meetings The opinion was expressed thet from the Press as well as from the Council point of view attendance of Press representatives at Council and Committee Meetings was not desirable. The Committee, therefore, supports the attitude of the Council on this point and is that under present con mission of the Press to Council and Committee meetings is not desir. Able. The question of Press admission to these meetings has been 80 frequently and. fully discussed at the Annual Meetings of Ratepayers and s0 widely ventilated from time for supplying the public with fuller and better information upon municipal matters, agreement was expressed by members that as, with the exception of the Couneit's Inominee, they were serving on the Committee as journalists, expert in Press publicity, it was their duty to advise'the'Couneil mainly in respect lof Press publicity only. At the Jsame time recognition was taken of the fact that publicity could be [developed by other means, such as Jwould come within the scope of a Public Relations Bureau. Such a [Bureau would deal not only with the Press but with the general public' Jand would be at the disposal of the Jcommunity for advice upon all Municipal matters. Tt was re-Jcognised by the Committee that the establishment of such x Bureau would entail the creation of a new! land somewhat large Department in the Council's Administration and the Committee was consequently not] prepared to go beyond the length Jot merely pointing out the possibilities of such a Bureau to the ICouneit for future reference in case lot necessity.
Press Information Office—Mem-bors were unanimously of opinion that the immediate establishment by the Council of a Press Information Ofice is desirable, such office to be responsible to the Council for the amination of fuller and better information upon municipal matters to che public through the medium of the Press; and the Committee cordingly recommends the appoint. ment of a Press Information Oficer to take charge of such Office Committee were strongly of opi [that such Officer should be a trained journalist, with knowledge of local daily Press conditions. The; Press Information Office should be! open for the reception of Press re-me sentatives only, the standing of such representatives to be guarfantced by a. permanent advisory! Committee, "the appointment which forms the subject of a separate recommendation to the! (Coumeil. Information to. be issued] by the proposed Press Information Office was classified as follows by' the Committee:—
Information sent out by the] Council of its own volition in the form of communiques, This to go to all papers simultaneously.
Verbal information, supported by such written material as may be considered necessary. Such information to be given. to assist press representatives calling for-"eopy."
Certain special matter to be prepared for the Pres:
The Press Information Office, it recommended, should be entirely. independent of all Council Departments and responsible only to the; [Council direct.
Chinese Press Publicity—Special] consideration was given to this question by the Committee, which was ju agreement with the Council in attaching greater importance from.
Council's view-point to this spect of publicity than that of publicity in the Foreign Press. Assuming that no single individual jean possess the linguistic and other! qualifications necessary for dealing, with both Chinese and foreign pub-city, the Committee considers it essential and recommends that a. thighly-qualified English Chinese gentleman, preferably trained Journalist, should be. placed jin charge of this section of the: work of the Press Information Office under the direction of the Press Information Officer. Special Jattention should be given by the loticer appointed to the require ments of the Chinese Press, ard advice on this subject should be secured from the recently-appointed [Chinese Adviser en Municipal 'o time in the columns of the: Pross int it was considered unneces: hhy the Committee to deal at greater Permanent Committee—In cox Jclusion, the Committee recommends the appointment of a permanent. [Committee to advise the Council on [Press information matters. Such aliberstions om ways ed Tats Committee would act entirely in an advisory capacity, and would meet A. D. BELt, Chairman, J. Cox, 'J. W, Fraser, Secretary,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.