THE RISING OF TIE SUN

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 2, 24 March 1927, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE RISING OF TIE SUN

■ HE SUN begins its journalistic service as a real community newspaper. Its constitution as p. predominantly Auckland commercial company with a large number of small shareholders precludes the making of half and quarter millionaires. This, in itself, creates a unique local recorcj. For the first time in Auckland’s romantic history a metropolitan newspaper starts with complete freedom to exercise all its activities and facilities for the benefit of all the people and not merely for the generous profit of a family circle, a financial clique, or a political party.

Thus, this independent journal has no inherited shibboleths or traditional prejudices. It is not tied to any organisation. There is no propagahda in its purpose. THE SUN is and always will be the people’s newspaper, giving fair and adequate expression to the whole range of public opinion and public interests.

This first issue of a real evening newspaper without any silly pretence at being a morning journal as well, represents a form of enterprise that is anything but common in New Zealand. Until to-day, twicp only within the past forty years has journalistic enterprise in this country been bold enough and sufficiently resourceful and competent to establish and maintain a metropolitan daily newspajftr. All the others have been content to move along the line of least resistance, being driven only by special circumstances, rarely ever voluntarily taking a lead, most often having to be led reluctantly, but still always pretentious in obese prosperity. Fifty of the sixty-one dailies in the Dominion had their origin in a simple age when it was as easy to launch a newspaper as it was to open a new lolly shop. The first excursion into the new field of modern journalism, where initiative, efficient haste, and bright features must take the place of stodginess, was made by the “Dominion.” It was the product of Wellington enterprise and sprang into active life in 1907. In the process of development it eventually absorbed its chief rival —apparently making a light morning meal of it. Christchurch hailed, enjoyed and eagerly supported the next bright assault upon entrenched monopoly and incorrigible dullness. This brisker foray was made by THE SUN in 1914. Though national circumstances were soon to become extraordinarily difficult and to remain disruptive for four years under world conflict, THE SUN not only won a high and an abiding place in Canterbury’s development and interests, but quickly obliterated one of its four daily rivals and obscured the other competitors. As every journalist in New Zealand readily admits, that record was achieved by virtue of the consistent practice of alert, independent, vivid and constructive newspaper Se in lC both of these successful enterprises the promoters, directors, and executive journalists emerged from the rut of newspaper service in this country and blazsd a track through the wide wilderness of words. To-day, their progressive methods and bright make-in are being adopted or adapted, imitated, but ever excelled by the startled Rip Van Wink ■ m different centres. Here and there, indeed, after more than half a century of sluggish development (to say very little about unpardonable indifference to the more attractive features of modern journalism and the insistent public demand for broader service and a less partisan outlook), attempts are being made to forget old ways and to appear as heralds of the dawn and the brightest stars in the newspaper firmament. The public, however, with much more discernment than the die-hard old school of profit-making and profit-keeping proprietors

give it credit tor, has viewed the forced transformation with an amused cynicism, asking pertinently why its interests were so flagrantly neglected until the prospective advent of a more progressive force in daily journalism.'

Evolution is constant and must ever be continuous in the newspaper world. It has been most active within the past decade. Within that period THE SUN has led all the three hundred newspapers in the Dominion. No apology for the establishment of THE SUN is necessary, and none has been called for. Public comment on the reasons for THE SUN’S rising in Auckland explains everything: “It’s time we had another paper.” The belated changes that have been wrought so hurriedly on the faces of the long-estdblished journals have emphasised the fairness of that Auckland comment.

But apart altogether from that phase of the question, it is common knowledge that this expanding community has long been ready for the publication of a third metropolitan daily newspaper. And particularly for this reason: All newspapers are recognised as the greatest media for the expression of public op'nion. How have these media been utilised within the range of a journalistic monopoly of a wide field? In the past half-century public opinion in this city, with a population almost equal to the aggregated populations of the two main cities in the South Island, has had only two daily channels of expression. Since each of these has been frankly partisan in policy and politics thousands of Auckland citizens have had no voice in journalism at all. Henca As active, sustained, and insistent demand f»r the establishment of THE SUN as a journal without restrictive traditions and ties. Time and again many people and representative interests have talked about and even tried to prepare the way for the strong foundation of a third daily paper for Greater Auckland, but the magnitude and the financial risks involved always daunted prospective promoters of a new journal. In earlier days it was easy to begin a newspaper and make a moderate success of it. The proof of that is the success of the journals whose origin represented a simple enterprise and whose present prosperity is the fruit of the community’s splendid growth. I All that was required formerly was a few pounds’ worth of type, a flat-bed printing press, a band of compositors well acquainted with drudgery, and half-a-dozen keen, but ill-paid and grossly overworked journalists. In those days, not yet too far away to have been forgotten, there was practically no limitation of working hours, and proprietors generally had little or no interest in the social or industrial welfare of their workmen. Those, indeed, were the good old days which some incorrigible idiots still sigh for! To-day, the launching of a daily newspaper with all the latest facilities for making it .. popular journal, is really a great event —an enterprise which only happens once or twice in half a century. Public opinion has had but a measure,, chance to find adequate expression outside the narrow and defined limits e: two-party politics. Here at last is an opportunity for an entirely new point of view and for an untrammeled expression of it. except, of course, for libellous and venomoir opinion. Such an opportunity must be of great value not only to the city, but to the whole of the Auckland Province. THE SUN is not handcuffed to any politic., party. Its mission is public service. It must, of course, get a living, but it means

to earn success and also to deserve it. Auckland has cordially welcomed the rising of THE SUN—a triumph of organisation and equipment, a product of Auckland's spirited enterprise and buoyant optimism.