THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY. WEDNESDAY. & FRIDAY FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 1925. REPORTING SOCIAL FUNCTIONS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4822, 13 March 1925, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY. WEDNESDAY. & FRIDAY FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 1925. REPORTING SOCIAL FUNCTIONS.

Reports of certain social functions have appeared in the ‘'Hauraki Plains Gazette” within recent months in respect to which the details were secured second-hand, after the functions had taken place, and not —as in the better way—while they were actually in progress.’ In these instances our representative h,ad to niterview three or four individuals to collect the necessary information, and this process involved the expediture of more lime than can well be spared by the staff of a paper catering for the immense district ranging from Waikino to Wharehoa .and covering the whole of the Hauraki Plains up to as far as Tahuna; to say nothing of the time of .the persons interviewed. We believe that in each case it was due to mere thoughtlessness that we were not apprised of tiie functions in order that we might be able to make adequate arrangements fob the reporting of them. It would be to the interest of all concerned to effect some improvement in the future. In each of the instances we allude to worthy citizens were being tendered valedictory functions in their honour. Has it never occurred to the promoters of such functions that the most valued token the departing guest can take away with him, m- have forwarded bn to his new sphere bf activity, is a good report in a newspaper of the tributes paid?. Such reports are often reprinted by a paper circulating ir the new district in which the depart ing guest takes up an abode, and are at once a recommendation among strangers in a strange place Moreover, most of us have relatives and friends in other parts of New Zealand, and in the United Kingdom. A man cannot well send round a case of pipes, oi' some such token to all his relatives and friends to sh.w them in what esteem he is held by his fellows; but he can easily er close newspaper cuttings, in his letters or post the paper containing the report. In the case of a young man leaving a district, would it not gladden his mother’s and his father’s heart, to receive a printed report of a funciion given in his honour? The answer is obvious. Is it not, there-

fore, well worth labile for those wishing to express their .appreciation of a fellow resident to see to it that a newspaper report is arranged for ? Reports at second-hand are almost invariably poor things in comparison with the story written up by a trained journalist at first hnad. On occasion, when we have remarked that in fairness to the guest—whom modesty would assuredly prevent from appearing to seek publicity— we might have been given an opportunity of sending a representative to the function, we Have Deen told that a representative of the “Gazttte” would have been welcome had he put in an appearance. That is to some extent gratifying, but it makes no allowance for the f act we are just ordinary mortals, and certainly would not care to appear as uninvited guests at a social function. Persons of refinement and nice feelings will appreciate our attitude. There is no other institution wherein co-operation is more essential than ir. the production of a newspaper which shall adequately and fittingly place on record the varied activities of the community whom it is dedicated to serve, and we trust that in the future we shall be permitted to contribute our share to the occasion in- hand promptly—promptitude is very desirable—and with due dignity and adequacy.