LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
From: Sir Linton Andrews, D. H. Cameron, Elkan Allan, D. C. S. Wiltshire, Donald South- gate, John A. Barry, Myron P. Gilmore, E. M. Milne, Anne Fremantle, J. Anthony Clare, Rev. V. W. S. Leatherdale, K. McKechnie, William H. James, Carols Sher Wird, and Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Lloyd.
A Press Deterrent
SIR,—Quoodle finds most of the adjudications in the latest annual report of the Press Council un- exciting. So do I. But why condemn the report, as Quoodle does, as sad reading? It would be much sadder if the report were full of melodramatic mis- conduct. Why describe the Council's work as an exercise in futility?
Speaking with some experience as a former chair- man of the Press Council, I should draw a different conclusion. In its early years this quasi-judicial body had before it plenty of dramatic complaints, notably of callous intrusion. Where the Council found a charge proved it spoke out plainly. As no one likes to be publicly reprimanded, the adjudica- tions have had a deterrent effect. This is all to the good.
Perhaps Quoodle thinks many cases are not worth the time and trouble devoted to them by Lord Devlin and his colleagues because they are con- cerned with local troubles and small papers. Even so, these cases have raised critical public issues in their own districts and should not be dismissed as trivial. No paper which flouts the ethics of the press should escape reproof. No editor unjustly assailed should be without the protection of the Press Council.
LINTON ANDREWS
28 North Parade, West Park, Leeds, 16
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