The Functions of Newspapers

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 109, 13 April 1885, Page 4

The Functions of Newspapers

[Timaru. Herald.] Some people have curious ideas of the functions' of newspapers. There are those who think them to be public property, and consequently that anybody has a right not only to demand but to insist that his or her opinions or places, or things, ho matter how red-hot and libellous they may be shall be published, and any explanation on your part that you have been, m the wisdom of Providence supplied with mind and reasoning powers of your own, is looked upon as downright impudence You are told your place is to listen. There is not a few societies, and public bodies, whose secretaries and other officers "come to you with an item of local news, possibly a report half a-yard long that will cost you five or ten shillings to set, and when politely reminded that it is usual as a kind of quid pro quo to advertise j these things "before asking for accounts of them to be published, open their eyes to their fullest extent and look at you with an expression on their face, as much as to say, "Well, if yon haven't got a cool cheek I'm blanked ! Here, IV gone to the trouble of bringing this valuable information about our club or Lodge to you, knowing it would be of use to your readers, and -you want me to pay you! What is your paper made for? There is still another class who think the newspaper have discovered the secret of perpetual motion and money or no money, can always pay their way or get along somehow. One of these folk came into our office the other day. He had lost a sum of money and desired to advertise it. We wrote out the advertisement for him and told him the cost. "Oh, I'll pay that when I get the money, said he. "But supposing you don't recover it? "Why, then, the advertisment will have been no use to me, and it's not likely Vm going to pay for anythiug useless/ We declined to do business on these terms, as it promised to be too much a case of" heads I win, tails you lose," and we told him so. He also seemed to wonder what newspapers were made for.