SEVERE EFFECTS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 117, 20 May 1942, Page 6

SEVERE EFFECTS

NEWSPAPERS AND WAR

RATIONING OF PAPER

"There is no activity on which the repercussions of war have been more severely felt than in the production of newspapers," declared Sir Cecil Leys, chairman of directors, in his report to shareholders read by Mr. E. Anderson, deputy-chairman, at the annual meeting of New Zealand Newspapers, Limited, to-day.

"Newsprint is a bulky commodity and the shipping space for its transport, even for a small country like New Zealand, considerable," he said. "In Britain the main source of the wood pulp that is the basis of paper was lost when Germany early controlled the Scandinavian Peninsula, and the manufacturer had to rely upon Canada and Newfoundland for supplies. The position, owing to the submarine menace, has become steadily aggravated until to-dav the great English dailies have "been reduced to four and six page issues.

"In New Zealand the pre-war position was rather different because, owing to the distance from sources of manufacture, and possibilities of interruption of a regular flow of supplies, it was an accepted policy to maintain large reserves. Unfortunately, the Government control of all imports imposed before the war resulted in a drastic reduction of the amount of newsprint tonnage obtainable and all representations and unremitting pressure failed materially to improve the position; so when the war started there were not the reserves that would normally have been held. There were opportunities subsequent to September, 1939, to build up stocks, but, although the vital need of doing this was impressed upon the authorities, an extension of import licenses was denied."

Now shipping difficulties were such that the industry was very gravely concerned with regard to procuring further newsprint, continued Sir Cecil. The position had been met as far as possible by a voluntary rationing of the paper available. This had been progressive during the past 12 months. The Auckland Star, which in September, 1939, consisted of issues totalling 125 pages weekly, in April last was down to 56 pages. Next month a further reduction would appear to be inevitable.

In the gradual reduction in the size of the paper, the dominating principle had been that the public should be provided with a complete service of news and the background to permit of the evaluation of events that were shaking the very foundations of the world to-day.

"The newspaper is a vital service in time of war," the chairman said. "It is the only medium that comes between the public and the fear that would so rapidly grow in a community where rumours circulated unchecked. It is the means by which the people are informed about what is being done and what is expected of them.

"If you pause to think what would happen in a time of crisis without the steadying influence of the newspaper you can onlv conceive a state of growing panic and chaos. All precautions have been taken that there shall, under no circumstances, be a disruption of this service, and I am pleased to say that the Government is fully alive to the paramount importance of the daily paper."