Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 17 November 1925, Page 2

.Sixty years is a lengthy span in most circumstances, and in the life of a newspiper is means a great deal. Our morning contemporary at Grcyinoutli, the "Grey River Argus” has reached its sixtieth birthday, and the occasion has teen marked by the issue of a special supplement which has an historic interest from the recital of early dayevents. The newspaper in question has been of great service to the town of Greymouth. In the old days it possessed the doyen of editors in Mr Florence .McCarthy, a writer whose memorywill bo recalled with pleasure by all wlio knew him. The late lion James Kerr was another notable figure about the Greymouth morning paper, whose worth and influence to the town was of particular value. The co-partner, Mr Aruott, was also a well-known genial figure The world went very well in those days, and Mr Aruott can be recalled as one who was a type of pioneer to make his mark. r l he three gentlemen named were very closely identified with the paper over many years, and their personality was reheated in the conduct of the dailyjournal. Since those halyeon days, as thev appear now. looking hack over a long period, the newspaper has had its experiences. Ihe “-Grey River Argus” has another distinction to-day. for it ranks as the only Labor daily newspaper in New Zealand. The distinction is not to its discredit, for in the newspaper world more than anywhere. it is well to have all classes represented, and all opinions ventilated. Labor has its varieties, not to say its tints, and the “Grey River Argus” is perhaps endeavouring to steer a middle course, and be less extreme than it might he. The policy of the paper, however, need not occasion any criticism at this stage, for after all. the policy is with the directorship very greatly, though most niton is perhaps hound up with the traditions of iho paper. But as the proverb records, honesty is the best policy, and honesty of purpose, and a desire to servo public interests, are tbe best directing motives for newspaper work. The Labor journal has its mission, and the “Grey River Argus” in taking up the burden and striving alone, may I>o something of a still, small voice, hut it has a field of operations which takes it among those who feel thev have a case for speiial attention. The “Argus” makes its appeal on behalf of these very insistently, and in that respect mnv he admired lo a degree. It is a tribute to its policy and its. direction that over all these years it is surviving as something of a power to voice the case it espouses, and that achievement is to its credit. There is the need for the paper, and the I aper is filling that need with a good ileal of success from the Labor point I view as bold at present.