EFFICIENCY BOARD AND NEWSPAPERS.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 15 March 1917, Page 4

EFFICIENCY BOARD AND NEWSPAPERS.

It is reported that the Efficiency Board is of opinion that less newspapers are necessary in war-time; that they constitute an essential industry only up to a certain point. Now, the old saw is, “Every fool thinks he can run a newspaper,” and possibly the Efficiency Board is a bit tainted that way. A newspaper can only live while the community of its nativity wills it. He would be a bold man who would undertake to say which newspapers are requisite and which should be strangled, and the Efficiency Board that essayed to plan a reduction of newspapers would resemble that body of men who stepped in where angels feared to tread, except, of course, in such a case as is presented in Christchurch, where newspapers may find over-production compels them to seek a more humble sphere under amalgamation. We do not mind giving the Efficiency Board a bit of advice that may save its members a lot of trouble, perhaps even make them famous and cause their names to go down in history as public benefactors. There is only one effective, fair and certain way of Manipulating the newspapers collectively and that is by nationalising them. Why not? Why not State newspapers? The amount of money

spent by New Zealand taxpayers on newspapers is positively staggering in its immensity. Why, a huge Department; had to be instituted to deal with the giving I 'but of Government advertisements alone. Why not a Department, not only to hand out advertisements, but to exercise a little intelligence in controlling newspapers altogether. The State would then get its advertising for nothing. The tens of thousands of pounds saved every year could, be spent on country roads and bridges,. giving the semi-banished settler of the back-blocks an occasional chance to- see some of his kind. The politics of the State newspapers would be colourless; this might be a calamity to heaven-born statesman-editors, but it would be a distinct gain to readers, and it would do away with that curse, the purely political organ. This is an aspect of newspapers that will bear a lot of discussion, but it is only mentioned here as a slight effort to help the new-broom Efficiency Board. It is said the Board is of opinion that there are too many country papers. We have no evidence supporting that contention, but there; is strong, undeniable evidence that at least one city is excessively loaded in that respect. But then, city newspapers have a powerful sting, and it isn’t politic to pull them about inordinately. The back-blocks publication is less harmful, much milder, more tractable, and may, to a certain point, be handled with impunity. Unfortunately, however, they do not furnish scope for an Efficiency Board to practice upon, most of them being launched twice or thrice a week upon a, few straggling settlers by an old man, who in some cases has the assistance of a boy. They certainly are beneath the notice of the Board from an efficiency point of view. Then it is those newspapers employing big staffs, using up immense quantities of material, making work for manufacturers, and loading up freight trains and ships that the Efficiency B'oard must give its entire attention to. We have suggested nationalisation of newspapers, because it would at once remove all monopoly creating. Take a case to Illustrate: Napier aud Hastings could veiy well be served by one news-.

payer Hum a purely news standpoint, out wnlch paper Is it that the Board would give th e monopoly to? What arrangements could ue made with the other two to hand over their advertising Clientele, and would the paper that was allowed to carry on be able to pay for the goodwill of the other two? No method of closing a newspaper is thinkable tnat does not compensate for loss. It may be the idea to divide profits, but the live paper would establish a connection that could never revert to or resemble present values. The question is too big for discussion here, but there is only one way for the Efficiency Board to steer clear of the pen that they may find is mightier than the sword, and that is to boldly make a stand for nationalisation. We ask the question

with utmost seriousness, “Why no State newspapers?”

A trap, with harness,, all in good order, is advertised for sale in this issue

The Defence Department needs two medically fit men between the ages of 46 and 48 to serve in Samoa for the duration of the war. Recruits should apply to Sergt-Mojor Forrest, Defence Office, Taihapc.

Out of 51 men examined in Masterton last week by the Military Medical Board, 33 were physically unfit for service, and at Woodville 25 out of 46 were unfit.

“There is a large number of small grocery businesses in the market just now,” stated counsel at the Military Service Board in Wellington, “and I am instructed that buyers cannot be found.”

An exchange says that the moat valuable wedding present on record was probably the cheque for ££)'),- 000 given a short time ago by Mr. C. M. Schwab, the American “Steel King,” to his sister on her wedding morning. It represented 100 times the bride’s weight in gold.

A Feilding mother received a great shock in the form of a. telegram saying her son (to whom the message Avas sent) had been drawn in the ballot. Immediately upon coming of age, some three months ago, the lad enlisted, and Avent into camp. He has just been home on his final leave.

There has been persistent rumours of late as to suicides at Trentham and Featherston camps, and the matter was brought under the notice of Sir James Allen yesterday. “There is no real foundation for such rumours,” said the Minister, “There have only been six suicides in all. the camps since January, 1916 —six out of over 30,000 men. That shows there is nothing in the rumours. ”

| A further advance of prices of certain patent oatn.e.>l hues is announced, equal to about «d per lb. This is ascribed to the sharp ad v anct m prime milling oats, consequent on the poor harvest in Southland, ancl the fact that a great proportnn of '.-he grain has been spoilt ny the prolonged spell of wet weather during the harvest period.

There is a remarkable difference in the two islands between the willingness of men to serve at the front. For the 29th Reinforcements 1440 men are required in the North Island, and i.ii, or practically half, arc voluntary recruits. In the SouT.ii Island, 5.9 h'>en are asked for, and only 101 have volunteered. Canterbury, from which 172 recruits are required, has promised seven voluntary recruits.

At the Military Appeal Board sitting at Palmerston North, Captain Walker, the military representative, drew attention to the large number of appellants whose fathers were suffering from all sorts of complaints, and were unable to assist their sons (says the Manawafu Times). Captain Walker said that as some of the appellants relied to some extent on this evidence, they should come prepared with some definite evidence, such as a doctor’s certificate. When some of those fathers appeared in Court to give evidence they were found to be lively as crickets.

A fire occurred in Auckland on Tuesday in a somewhat peculiar manner. The mistress of the house was spreading turpentine to kill mosquitoes, and was holding the bottle in one hand and a candle in the other, when the light came too near the spirit, which ignited and exploded. The fire spread rapidly, the occupants of the house had to leave hurriedly. The building was insured for £4OO, and the contents were covered by a policy of £BOO. The loss is estimated to be £2OO above the insurance.

Anyone who has occasion to make frequent use of the penny-in-the-slot telephone boxes scattered about Wellington cannot fail to notice that there is not a single directory which has managed to retain its cover. The reason for this (says the New Zealand Times), is not ordinary “fair wear and tear,” but is the result of deliberate purloining by women, who use the covers for the extraordinary purpose of dying blouses. Boiled in water, the covers yield a dye which imparts to the fabric a delicate shade of pink. A new set of directories has been jssued, and it will be interesting to see how long the covers remain on them.

“Is a perambulator manufacturer an upholsterer or a carriage builder? ’ would make a nice question for mutual improvement societies to consider next winter. A number of business men had the matter before them Tuesday at a sitting of the Auckland Conciliation Council to deal with a dispute in the furniture trade. A perambulator manufacturer had asked for exemption, on the ground that a perambulator was not furniture or upholstering. An employer suggested that, as a propelled vehicle, it should be included in the coachbuilders’ award. Then it was pointed out that bicycles and motor cars were propelled vc-V: i"S. and the discussion was droppe.. with the point still unsettled.

An advertiser will do any gardening work by contract, in Taihape or surrounding districts.

Sydney papers record an improvement in recruiting figures for New South Wales.

There are at present 37 medical men practising in Christchurch, compared with 51 prior to the war.

A company has been formed in America with a capital of £1,000,000, for the purpose of building aeroplanes only.

No free Railway passes will henceforth be issued to any member of terriforials, cadets, or other military forces tu attend sports, competitions, or shooting matches until th e war is finished and peace is declared.

It is notified that shops in Taihape will close at II a.m. on Monday 10th March, instead of on the previous Saturday, St. Patrick’s Day. In place of the usual Hibernian sports, a monster programme of sports and competitions win take place in aid of Red Cross work. A Paris sporting writer says the brayiess mure Is one or me scremiiic de\eiopmenis mo war. imrge numbers of mules were required for tile army, and their name or oraymg demanded a silencing method before they eourd be useu ru .as hest advantage. Veterinary experts discovered that a slight operation on the nostril had the effect, and all the mules sent to the front are now made mute.

“The Allies to-day,” stales Patrick Y. Alexander in a recent issue of “Flying,” “have complete superiority of the air, but it has been achieved at a tremedous expenditure of efforts and money. : We have not less than 500,000 persons in the British air service alone, including thousands of aviators, mechanics and manufacturers of aeroplanes and aeronautic supplies. Aeroplanes can be seen in flocks anywhere. Every ship that leaves British ports is escorted by aeroplanes until it is quite a way beyond the Irish coast. We also have large airships which we expect will be superior to the very best Zeppelins. We have in use at present hundreds of small dirigibles, less than 300 feet long, equipped with aeroplane bodies instead of the usual nacelle. They are capable of staying in the air 50 hours and go at a speed of about 25 miles an hour. They are very useful in submarine warfare and coast defence.”