NEWSPRINT SCARCITY.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3461, 15 April 1920, Page 6

NEWSPRINT SCARCITY.

N.Z. PAPERS IN DIFFICULTY. - WELLINGTON, April 13. A conference of newspaper proprietors from Dunedin, Cllristchui'oh, _Auckland and Wellington was held here to-day'to consider what steps should be‘ taken to meet the critical

“situation arising out of the cliiiiculty ‘of securing newsprint paper. Mr P. Selig presided. It was reported that in a number of cases the position of I newspapers in the Dominion was serious. Stocks of paper in hand were perilously low, and further supplies scarce and uncertain. Not only was there a world-scarcity of newsprint, but prices had soared to unprecedented 1 heights. Last week the only paperi rprocurable for early delivery was‘ quoted at £95 per ton: as against the! l‘p'r'e-‘war figure‘ of £ll 167 per ton, and»'sonlc proprietors had been compelled I to purchase at this extravagant figure. iOwing to the situation in Canada it was practically impossible to "place orders there with any hope of having‘ them filled this year, and Scandinavian paper could be procured only in small lots, and with uncertain delivery. The - question of reducing the size of city papers was discussed, ‘and it was agreed that measures; in this direction were urgently necessary, and that all economies possible to ensure a reduction in the quantity of paper used should be practised. It was decided to recommend to the newspaper proprietors in the four chief centres of population that steps should be taken immediafely to curtail as severely as pos- \ siblc the space. devoted to display ad-i

Vortising. ' A deputation was appointed to wait on. the Prime Minister to urge that until paper supplies sufiicient to meet the needs of the newspapers of New Zenland were procurable from Canada, the duty on Scandinavian paper should 13$" lifted. “