WHAT IS "COPY"?

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 138, 9 December 1930, Page 11

WHAT IS "COPY"?

JUDGE AND COUNSEL DON'T KNOW

His Honour Mr. Justice Blair and counsel debated for some time during the hearing of a cose in the Supreme Court to-day in an endeavour to find suitable definitions for "editorial," "article," and "copy." "I can. generally pick a leading ar-: tide from, its position in the paper," said Mr. Justice Blair. "They talk about copy; what is copy?" Mr. C. A. L. Treadwell: "Articles, sir." I His Honour: "The generic term for anything that goes into a paper excepting advertisements is copy." Mr. Treadwell: "I am not quite sure I that advertisements would not be called copy from a printer's point of view." His Honour: "What poiut of view arc you talking about?" Mr. Treadwell: "That is just the point." . His Honour: "Suppose they propose to change Wellington from 110 to 230 volts; you could write an editorial on it. But supposing there was a technical discussion about 110 and 230 volts, that's copy." Mr. Treadwell: "That would be an article on the subject." His Honour: "If the same person wrote it.-. .?" Mr. Treadwell: "But written from a different point of view." His Honour: "What's the technical term; one is an editorial, what'B the other?" Mr. Treadwell: "Article, sir." His Honour: "Then suppose they interview the Mayor of the town and the Leader of the Opposition and ask them what they think about the change of voltage; what would that be?" j Mr. Treadwell: "An interview of leading citizens." His Honour: "What's the technical term1?" Mr. Treadwell: "I don't know there is one except Hie comprehensive expression of 'copy." The subject then lapsed. Ramsey Wilson and Qo. "wilt sell furni"tnre, caVprts, etc., a£ % %V>- to-morxctw at their auction mart, oppoMie Regent.