CRITICAL POSITION

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 209, 29 May 1920, Page 8

CRITICAL POSITION

| NEWSPAPERS AND PAPER SHORTAGE

SITUATION DISCUSSED

> The critical position of many New Zealand newspapers duo to the shortago of newsprint paper supplies was responsible for a big gathering of newspaper proprie- ; tors at Wellington yesterday. The meet- >: Ing was called by tho New Zealand Newspaper' Proprietors' .Association, and was !v attended by representatives of practieal- : ." ly the wholo of the daily Press of* tho Dominion. Mr. C. Earlo, who presided, explained ' that the meoting had been, called in or- : 'der that. newspaper proprietors might ■ learn at first hand from the' principal " suppliers of newsprint paper to tho Press i : cf New Zealand exactly what _ the pnsij tion was ahead of them. Owing to tho scarcity of printing paper and the irregularity of shipments, ninny newspapers had reached an exceedingly critical .. .stage. So mo had only a few weeks' eupply of paper in stock, and could not bo certain whether additional supplies would r ; como to hand in time to enable them to avoid tho necessity of closing down. It was hoped that all newspapers holdinj ' reserves of paper stock would assist, as ' ■ some of them had already done, those ! " less fortunately situated until tho pre- ;; sent exceptional pinch had passed. Mr. W. B. Carmichael, representative 5 of several Canndian paper mills, and the principal sunplier of newsprint paper to !: - Now Zealand, outlined the efforts he had ■ mndo to keep the Dominion's newspapers 'Roing, in face of heavy difficulties. The world shortage of pnper resulting from' ■ the abnormal demand in tho United States. Canada, all.'] qlsewhere following ; on the war. had made it impossible at -..times to buy paper at any . price. _ The existing shortago was, in his opinion, ?'.■ likely to continue for some time, and ho strongly urged the practice of every posi ' Bible economy to save paper, and I' ' build up reserves against possible j ; ... contingencies in tho future. With • cconomy and mutual help between newsI paper proprietors, lie considered that tho ! supplies lie had been able to arratigo for would about enable the Now Zealand ) ■ Press to tido over their present difficult tics. To be on the safe side, however, . they would have to restrict the sizo of f " their papers and reduce consumption, , for the time being, to the lowest pos- ; ; siblo limit. Mr. Carmichael promised to do his utmost to relieve tho situation, /• but unless those newspapers holding re- ■ serve stocks were willing to co-operato l it would be difficult for him to do very much in the matter of this year's supplies. I'", In the course of tho discussion which " followed, a number of those present pointed out tho 'difficulties winch confronted fliem in securing delivery of ori ders, and a list handed in disclosed the !! fact that in. several instances the stocks • in hand wero insufficient to citable publication beyond a few weelta' time. It was decided to send a circular to members of the Newspaper Proprietors' ; Association urging that all members who •: have 'reserve stocks on hand should assist those in Bliort supply by authorising Mr.; Carmichael to divert the_ whole or ■ a portion of the balance of their supplies , due for delivery this year to the more /■. necessitous cases. It was further resolved that in view of" tho critical situation arising out of . tlie scarcity of newsprint, proprietors bo ' urged to'conserve supplies to the utmost , of their ability, and to reduce the sine of their, papers wherever possible. The question of curtailment of fldver- ' tising spaces was discussed, find it was resolved: "That in view of the uncertainty regarding future newsprint sup- ; plies, and the enormous increase in tha price of newsprint, proprietors bo urged . to abstain for the. present from entering : into advertising contracts for a longer 5. period than three months." A resolution specially thanking lit. : ■■':'■■■ Carmichael for his efforts to.secure supi -' plies, and expressing appreciation of his ; services generally, was carried with ac- ' cliimation.