The Hastings Standard Published Daily MONDAY, APRIL 26, 1897. OUR BIRTHDAY.

Hastings Standard, Issue 306, 26 April 1897, Page 2

The Hastings Standard Published Daily

MONDAY, APRIL 26, 1897. OUR BIRTHDAY.

For the cause that lacks assistance, Foi the wrongs that need resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that we can do.

To-Day we celebrate our first birthday. Twelve months ago the Standard commenced to wave. Since then sunshine has taken the place of storm, and the difficulties always accruing to the starting of a newspaper have been overcome one by one. Starting against strong opposition and a desire on the part of the Press Association to make us pay a higher fee for its rights than that asked from any journal in the colony, the Standard has slowly and surely won its way. Independent in politics and in everthing else, it has fervently catered for the greatest good to the greatest number. While thanking a fair-minded public for its support we regret that we cannot extend the compliment to many of our local bodies. Perhaps we have spoken rather openly of the actions of certain members, but we can safely say that only honest criticism has appeared in our columns. Of malice and unfairness we are innocent. For some reason or other our public bodies have given us scant encouragement. The Borough Council accepted a starvation tender for advertising from a Napier paper, and also decided to get the whole of its printing done in that town. The Hawke's Bay Jockey Club, which derives nearly the whole of its revenue from Hastings and which is purely a local institution, has not spent one penny either in printing or» advertising here, although the members will all

admit that they -would be the gainers by a more liberal distribution of their favors. The Agricultural and Pastoral Society, which also derives the most of its revenue locally, passes us to spend its money entirely outside of Hastings. The Babbit Board also ignores this town. This is not as it should be, and we venture to say that in no other town in the colony would this take place. In other towns every assistance is given to the Press, and it has invariably been found judicious to give this assistance. Notwithstanding that our many appeals for a fair share of work have been overlooked, it has not in any way made any difference to our reports of the proceedings of the above-mentioned bodies. The Borough Council meetings are more fully reported than ever they have been ; the results of every event of the Jockey Club meeting have appeared in oar evening issue—a feat never before accomplished in Hawke's Bay ; and the A. and P. Society have no cause to complain of the space devoted to their show and meetings. We hope members now notice their shortsightedness, and will make amends in the year just commencing. To the public we express our sincere thanks for past favors. The support so far accorded leads us to a decision to enlarge the Standard at an early date. Our circulation has steadily increased, until to-day our journal is read in every home in Hastings, and is freely circulated as far north as Gisborne, as far east as Rotorua, and as far south as Daimevirke. We have started an important industry, giving employment to more hands than is given by any business firm in Hastings. We have caused to be circulated in the district over £IOOO in the first twelve months, and with increased support that sum will be considerably more in future. Under the circumstances we can rightly claim the support of our local bodies, who both directly and indirectly benefit by our efforts. No feelings of philanthrophy brought the Standard to Hastings. It was purely a commercial speculation on the part of the proprietors in a desire to work up a payable business. W T e looked for no fortune, but for a comfortable living. After much up-hill work, the Standard waves to-day in promised sunshine. It hopes sincerely that the gloom which now overcasts Hawke's Bay will shortly be dispelled, and that the sufferers by the floods will be materially assisted by national aid. It hopes that during the next twelve months Hastings will have its woollen mill working, its beet-sugar industry booming, and that the much talked-of public recreation ground will be thrown open. It also hopes that the members of the various local bodies will not overlook the claims of the Standard. Although we are only one year old today, we feel much older, and strong enough to be a great power for Good.