NEWSPAPERS

Hokitika Guardian, 23 August 1933, Page 3

NEWSPAPERS

Brisbane Merger,, J SYDNEY, August 10. The Australian -newspaper cemetery, it would s e cm, is .in .grave danger of (overcrowded. Within, the next -few weeks another, yvelhestablished daily journal .will go out of ex-istence—-the “Brisbane, Daily a morning paper that has been merged In the “Brisbane Courier. ’’ The “Mail and- the “Courier” ere Both m'orning papei-6, and it lias been fairly clear for. some time now that there was not room ..in Brisbane for both. . It was stated last week that the powerful •Melbourne. “Herald” : concern was,-.in-terested in the formation of the new ‘‘Courier” company, but thi, s has been denied, although it is .admitted that, the managing director of , the Melbourne concern (‘Sir Keith Murdoch), will have a share interest in the new, organisation. The new “Courier’’ will come into existence soon, and accord- : ini. to /public announcements, “will combine , the Best features of both jourpials.” Newspaper )men have bad aril . anxious time in Australia during the ! ]ast few years, and one wonders what will happen to those; in Brisbane who will be- placed -on the employment market, already overerb’wded. There is a ray of hope on the lioi i - ton. Melbourne is : talking about its new evening paper, the “Star,” which j will )be published by .'the “Argus” company early in November. . The “Star” will be ,an , evening paper and will provide th© ‘‘Herald” with ■ the first opposition for mny years. .The “Argus” has always ' been ‘associated with journalism of a staid character, and it came as a surprise .to the . people pf the city .rwhen they became I aware that the . company was about to’ enter the field, of evening papers The; notification also had its repercussion^. 1 on the ‘labour market. It was an-' noun-ced that all the key positions had! been filled, but that there were still -.250 -positions vacant. This evoked a 6w. rm of applications by post, and it 4s . thjiit the ,num,be, r ■ reached 5000; Was it any wonder that the management appealed for mercy, .and said in effect . “this correspondence must... , cease ” ' . • • '

Until the time was l-ipe the secret of the new ,venture was- well • keptM -,ny of-, the old; .mein'ber 6 of, ’the “Argus” ,shff had heard no whisper of it. There were some.; misgivings at, the outset when many wondered how such a company, steeped in conservative journalism, could hope to break .new ground. Some of these misgivings linger, bub The manner in which the staff is being organised, and the repui tetiori of tht “Argus” company, has greatly heartened those who wish the new-'paperrisuccesst- w no.- <./! i.