A NEWSPAPER PIONEER.

Shannon News, 25 January 1927, Page 3

A NEWSPAPER PIONEER.

EIQIIT j jbuipTALS. "'" '' ' l:T *' : ' _iLJ h,:/ ' I !!■ l£ The reminiscences of an old time journalist who planted a number of newspapers in New Zealand are summarised in a column article sent to tho Waipukurau Press by Mr J. H. Cla ridge, who is now the proprietor of a job printing and stationery business in Hender?on, in the Auckland district. Mr Claridge founded the Waipukurau p?.per in 1905, and he writes as follows:—When / arrived at "Waipuk." I stayed a night at the Tavistock Hotel, then conducted by Mr P. Gow. In a conversation T told Mr Gow my business, and he tried to dissuade me from starting. "Find some other place, young man; there is too much opposition from Napier and Dannevirke,'' paid ho.

In the morning, however, I went round to the business people,' and asked if they would support a local paper in the way of advertising. I do not think 1 got' one refusal. It's remarkable how New Zealand towns will support anything purely local! I went back to Wellington and assembled a printing plant. Some of the type I bought from the Government Printer; it had been used only once, ard was tied up in page form. It was Piggins's make, with a good face. The pages referred to an amendment in the Act bringing in Ilawkes Bay as an additional province. The tyne had been tied up with string, ;ind then wrapped in brown paper, but owing to having been parcelled for about fifty years, the string erumbhd to dust when the packages were undone. Sir George Grey'.name appeared, but all persons connected with the Act had long since passed away. I printed one page of the Aei as a sample, and the Curator of the Wellington Museum wanted to purchase ;t. When I received his letter, however, -he type had been distributed, and of course, its value iu that respect lo.;i

I do not think I could have been moiv than eight months in • Waipukurau, fo on September 6th, 1906, I brought ou the first issue of the "Taumarunu Press." I went there on the suggestion of Mr R. J. Seddon, whom I knew fair!;, well. One day he remarked: "If yo-. Availt to do pioneering work, you ough to go to the new places; then the Goernment would assist you as much a, pos&ible-with advertisements." The eight country papers I have "planted" during the past 27 year, (after being 18 years in one job on fh "Hawera Star") are all growing strongly, prominent among them beinj.. the "Waipukurau Press." I established the "Eitham Argus, 7 "Martinborough Star," "Waipukura.. Press," "Taumanmui Press," "Otoro hanga Times," "Huntly Press " " 'Mo •- rinaville Star," and "Tuakau Press.'