NEWSPAPER CRISIS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 166, 9 April 1921, Page 7

NEWSPAPER CRISIS

HEAVY LOSSES IN ENGLAND. Newspapers are facing a grave crisis, says the "Sunday Chronicle” (London) of' February 6. ' The "Daily Express” states tbit three metropolitan newspapers, none of them of a very large’ circulation, are offered for sale. The position of tho newspaper industry, it is added, is extremely serious, the high cost of paper or newsprint precluding any possibility of profit, and. indeed, causing a loss for nearly every newspaper in the country. Some of the losses, it states, run into enormous figures. A few of the more fortunate Manchester proprietors with connections in London, are not so desperately cornered, but so far as the great majority, of newspapers are concerned, the situation is desperate. The assertions made by the "Daily Express,” so far as t'hey relate generally to all the leading morning newspapers losing money, are not exaggerated, and it may be stated fairly that proprietors cannot possibly hope to produce their journals, except at greai loss, under present circumstances. This has been brought about by enormous increases in theicost of production in paper and in wages. Increases have been going on for some time, but they have now become so enormous that some steps are bound to bo taken almost immediately. In its statements concerning Manchester proprietors, ilie "Daily Express is harHly correct. There is.Tio difference at all between the position of Mandiester newspapers and that of London newspapers, They are suffering from exactly the same difficulties, and these difficulties are not of a temporary character, because prices do not look like tailing for some time. . If some steps are not taken immediately the result will be very serious—unemployment, the dissipation of capital, tho disruption of the newspaper industry, and very great inconvenience to the public, as well as the possibility of papers getting into hands that; might not be disposed to conduct them on lines generally so fair and reliable as at present. Newspapers cannot any longei bear tlie burden of material costs and the very heavy demands of labour, increase in price is the only way out and the public, realising the facts would endorse such action. It )s altogether to the public benefit to have a.n effiieenc Press. Unless steps are taken to meet rising costs that efficiency is bound to Buffer.