REMARKABLE JOURNALISM.

Otaki Mail, 18 August 1922, Page 3

REMARKABLE JOURNALISM.

I TEAT OP ONE TIME WAK j MAGAZINE. ' STORY OF THE BIRTH AND GROWTH OF "AUSSIE." - Tho history of the birth and growth of "Aussie," that bright monthly that is steadily gaining in poulariiy throughout New Zealand, p .vides one of the most interesting stories in the history of Australasian journalism. > Pew people outside of a newspaper office appreciate the wonderful complete power of organisation necessary for the ; production of a modern newspaper or magazine, and this point must be em- ] phasised in recounting the early strug- ! gles of "Aussie" to reach its soldier readers in wartime.

■ "Aussie" was a classic of trench j journalism. The first number ran to : 0,000 copies, but so great was the demand that the second issue amounted to 60,000 copies. Small wonder was it that the paper supply caused trouble. The entire staff from printers' devil to managing editor wont searching for the all important commodity. Fate was kind for someone located ten tons of likely paper in the cellar of a ruined printery at Armentieres. This tempted the editor to increase the circulation to 1(10,0(10 copies. The large number of impressions wore out the type. In true Northcliff spirit the'editor ordered tho scrounging out of more type so the colossal publishing job was completed. Fritz pied the fourth issue by the simple experiment of dropping a bomb oil the completed forms. It was found, however, that "Aussie" had been oilly slightly shell-shocked. So in spite of [•Vitz the fourth issue eventually readied the trenches. These tire only a few of the difficulties that "Aussie" had to surmount in

wartime. Wlmu peac<> came the editor, Mr I'hillip Harris, decided that like a sensible citizen "Aussie" must forget all about the war and be issued in

civics. "Aussie's" civic record has been almost as remarkable as its wartime one. In eighteen months it litis climbed to a circulation of over 00,000 copies Y>cr issu.'. Xo longer a soldier's paper it is fulfilling an equally worthy object in entertaining the laughter loving peoples of Australia a; 1 Xe-v Zealand. Run on the lines of American "Life" critics place ii as the lines' magazine published south, of <he line. Clean, bright and clever, it.- pages bubble with the effervescent wit of the southern seas. New Zealand people will be particularly interested to hear that the proprietors of "Aussie" have decided to extend their activities to New ZealanJ. Headquarters have been established in Wellington with Mr Pat Lawlor. a well known X.Z. journalist, as manager. When the time is ripe a separate Nov, Zealand edition of the paper will be ii sued. The wonderful success of "Aussie has tempted the proprietor., to embark nn another publication. This is ••Humour," a fortnightly thai skims the laughter from the prominent humorous journals of the worldThe August number of "Aussie.'-' a copy of which has just reached us, pre seats in excellent style the genius of artists and writer? in Australia am' New Zealand. Much credit is due to "Aussie" for the part it has taken in encouraging the young artists anfl rrrtvers in tlu Commonwealth and the Do minion. The latest evidence of tins' spirit i. seen ir the liberal offer of ... <>iv< practical encouragement for the improvement of black-and-white art and literature. This scheme was first announced in the duly "Aussie." the period concerned extending over the months of August, September and Oc tober. All matter accepted by "Aussie" and published during this term will compete for the money, which will be ti" anted at the end of the three months. The scheme provides fur a prize of £25 for the best drawing published in "Aussie" during August. September, or October; £5 for the liesdrawing by an artist who has not previously had work published in "Aussie"; £25 for the most humorous article, story, sketch or verse, and £5 for the best suggestion for a humorous picture.