The Opotiki News Friday. December 10, 1939. SHORTAGE OF NEWSPRINT

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 271, 15 December 1939, Page 2

The Opotiki News Friday. December 10, 1939. SHORTAGE OF NEWSPRINT

On account of the difficulties, in securing supplies' of newsprint and in an endeavour' to conserve ‘supplies, the proprietors of the Opotiki News have decided not to publish during the Christmas and New Year holiday period. The- News will be published as usual on Friday, December 22 but will not bring out, the,next issue until January' 2. The News is faced with the .situation that, unless new supplies <>f newsprint are forthcoming before the end of March', publication will have to cease. We have been informed that • other papers in the Auckland Province are in a worse position only having supplies in sight lor two months.

The position is clearly shown by. extracts from two letters Irom our paper merchants. In acknowledging receipt of order for next year’s supplies of newsprint through their traveller, this firm writes as follows :—“W e acknowledge receipt of your order . but would advise that whilst we have the

necessary import license, we are unable to accept your order at the present time, unless you could guarantee payment in sterling. You are no doubt aware that tlm mills have * refused execute any further orders unless payment is guaranteed in sterling prior to shipments. Should there be any alteration in the position, we will immediate! v communicate with you.

In' reply to a letter, the same firm again wrote on the 28th. November, as follows:—‘‘We regret to hear of the position that you are placet! in. Infortnnately, it is not a matter of approaching the Minister 01 Customs foigassistance. as we have already had the necessary Import License covering, newsprint. granted ns, but as advised in ours of the 20th. inst., the mills have refused to execute any lurtlier orders unless payment is guaranteed in sterling prior to shipment.” Th. ■re js a prospect- that a quantity of newsprint may In l available in the near future from an order placed prior to the mills’ demand for sterling. Jailing this newsprint being made available, it will lie necessary at an early date, to drastically curtail the number of papers being printed, in an endeavour to publish for as long a period! as possible. Many people, are under the impression that newsprint is being manufactured in New Zealand, Ihe Whakatano Paper Mill only produces a fairly low-grade board and has boon granted a monopoly of tliis lor the duration of the war at least. Arrangements had been made some' time ago to increase the size of the sheet on which the News is printed and itis hoped that supplies of the new size will he available for a change-over as early as possible in the new year. Provided that the necessary matrices are available, it is also intended to make a slight increase in the size of type used for news matter, which should be of advantage from our readers’ point of view.