I hope that the Conservative amendment to Mr. C. .L
Simmons' Bill proposing the establishment of a General Council of the Press by statute Will be carried on Friday. A Press Council may be a good thing or a bad thing. The Royal Commission on the Press thought it a good thing, but made it perfectly clear that what they were recommending was a voluntary body, not a Council set up by an Act of Parliament. "We are recommending a voluntary body to be set up by the Press," they say explicitly in paragraph 660 of their report. There are various unacceptable provisions in Mr. Simmons' Bill, but the whole principle of it is bad. Let Parliament begin regulating the Press and the freedom of the Press will be in danger as it has not been in this country for years. It is significant that this Bill is being moved by a member of a party that loves controls. The Conservative amendment would put the whole thing on a voluntary basis.
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