The Sun FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 1928. OUR BIRTHDAY

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 311, 23 March 1928, Page 8

The Sun FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 1928. OUR BIRTHDAY

A YE AH AGO to-day The Sun appeared on tlie horizon of Auckland journalism. From the beginning it was strong enough and well able to defy the determination of the Herod of competition to slay all competitive children. Indeed, the threat of early strangulation did not even hinder a steady and sturdy growth. To-day the precocious infant has become a robust child; a little too forward, perhaps, in the eyes of its frowning enemies, but, nevertheless, a vivacious youngster, eagerly welcomed, though neither petted nor spoiled by its friends over a wide field of appreciative friendship. It is not necessary to discuss at length or seriously the campaign of competitive hostility The Sun has encountered without a wound. Enough to say of a conflict which was inevitable that the character of the fighting against us has at improved. That lias emerged from underground ways and assumed a manlier form of militancy. Opposition is less inventive; there is uot so much fabrication of stupid stories about impending ruin, hopeless lack of popularity, and ail the other nonsense that litters the imagination of resentful monopolists in the face of virile competition. For ourselves, we may -say frankly and quite modestly, because it is the vivid truth, The Sun “goes on its sovereign way;” its beams still bright and of an undiminished strength, its path and purpose free of shadow or eclipse. Twelve months ago, in explaining the need and avid demand for a new metropolitan daily evening newspaper in Auckland, with something to say as an independent critic of life and affairs and with courage to say it frankly and fairly, it was noted in this column that criticism was inevitable and welcome. In anticipation of such criticism we raised Carlyle’s blunt wisdom as our shield. This was that “no good thing of any sort shows its best face first.” There has been nothing in the certain growth of The Sun during its first year to cause us or anyone else to seek a different defence. The face of a good thing has been better and better every day. It takes time, of course, for even the sturdiest child to toddle first and then to run with vigour and purpose. And even now, as for ever, in the very nature of live journalism, tlie best face, like Browning’s joy, “is yet to be.” Such imperfections as have appeared to friendly critics and others have been due almost entirely to a marked difference in modern newspaper form. It has been our aim to avoid the perfect stodge of tradition, and to serve all the public as a real evening newspaper, not merely as a late afternoon edition of a morning paper. The community now recognises that an apparent fault is actually an active virtue, and appreciates the fact. Hence the increasing demand for a journal that had the initiative to come out from a traditional rut and has tlie strength to keep out of it and maintain a distinct individuality. As for policy, there is nothing to be added to our plain declaration a year ago. Nor is it at all necessary to take anything away from it. To-day, there is the same need and the same demand for a complete independence of alert journalistic service as those which made this journal an essential and a welcome enterprise. It is true that our consistent practice of independence has made many different administrators and public-serving individuals wince, but the remedy for that vexation of spirit does not lie in a change of our policy; it lies in the necessity and scope for better administration, for keener and more competent public service. Of course, it would be much easier to concentrate criticism on Soviet Russia or on wild and woolly Socialists in other lands, thus enjoying a spurious popularity for brisk criticism without the risk of retaliation; but The Sun happens to be published in Auckland, and is pledged first, last and always to the promotion of Auckland and New Zealand interests. When community affairs have become perfect here, it will then he time to condemn bad politics and humbug in Leningrad and the Balkans, or deplore the unrest among coloured races in the Valley of the Limpopo. So The Sun enters its second year with every reason for satisfaction with its early growth. It has more reason still for optimism and a bright outleok. The strength of Auckland and Greater Auckland’s certain future of progress and prosperity is our strength and assured destiny of success. /