SHORTAGE OF PAPER.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 2 March 1917, Page 2

SHORTAGE OF PAPER.

PRICE OF NEWSPAPERS TO BE RAISED. .

WELLINGTON, Feb. 27

In Iho course of his presidential address at the annual conference of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association, Mr P. Selig said newspaper owners had grave reasons for concern regarding future paper supplies. The first shock of the now year was the failure of the initial shipment from Powell River, which was not now expected till March. Contracts were for 1917 and 1918, and freight at buyers’ risk. Twelve months ago he had referred to the fact that the cost of the output of newspapers had gone up by leaps and bounds. All materials that enter into the production of a newspaper had continued to increase in price. The principal offices had had to face an increase in the price of news printing paper of nearly .125 per cent, compared with previous figures. Metal and ink and other materials, also wages and the cost of cable service and telegrams, had also largely increased. All over the world somewhat similar conditions prevailed and proprietors must fac,e here, as elsewhere, the question of raising the price of papers to the public, .to in some measure recoup these heavy additional expenses in production. After a very full discussion by the largest meeting of newspaper proprietors held in the Dominion for many years, it was unanimously resolved: — “That this meeting of members of the Newspaper Proprietors of New Zealand is of opinion that in view of the enormous increase in the price of news printing paper, and the increased cost of material and of working expenses, in practically all departments of newspaper production the time has arrived when an increase in the selling price of New Zealand newspapers can no longer bo avoided, such change to come into force on April 2nd.’’