THE COUNTRY PRESS

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 520, 6 April 1920, Page 4

THE COUNTRY PRESS

AN ENERGISING FORCE. "I don't know what you may do, but I don't accept as my Bible," said a country resident recently in retort to an interjection that a certain item appeaerd in a city paper. This speaker introduced an interesting' line of thought. It may of course be instantly' admitted that the city paper fills a high place in the great scheme of things in the cities of big- population, and in the main for the quantity of news they handle are wonderfully correct. But it is not exactly w'th this phase we wish to deal. There is sometimes found an impression in the country, happily not very general, that the country press is a negligible quantity when the city papers are so readily available. This small portion never made a greater or a more thoughtless mistake. The metropolitan paper, dependent i>i such a large part upon street and newstand sales, with a floating and constantly changing constituentfor whom it has to cater, can never get into the close personal touch with its readers as can the country paper with its list of constant subscribers. The country editor knows his readers, where such would be n.i absolute impossibility to the city editor, the tone of whose paper is necessarily more detached. The coun--Iry paper is an energising force in its own centre, a local institution in the best sense of the word. It grows inch by inch with its district, it reflects the progress of its district, and, if it fullils its functions, helps not inconsiderably in that development. It fights shoulder to shoulder with the local people for everything that spells progress, and because it is part and parcel of the warp and woof of the Community life it has a hold on the people and a claim on their support to an extent beyond any comparison with that of the city paper. The foregoing remarks apply to the country. press in general, but with particular force to a paper like the "Times," ciqpulating, as it does, from Papatoetoe* to Rangiriri, inclusive. Each issue of the "Times" is read by approximately six thousand persons i