CURRENT TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 October 1915, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

PRESS TELEGRAMS. Many people run away with the idea that the war is a veritable gold-mine newspapers. In point of view it is just the reverse. Few businesses are feeling it more. iPaper has increased enormously and is difficult to get even at an enhanced price, owing to tlie dislocation in, shipping circles in Canada and England, whilst other materials have increased in price. The Government has now added to the newspapers' burden by doubling the price of press telegrams. How such an advance can be justified we do not know. As the Wairarapa Age says:—"The excuse offered by the Government is that, under the present charge of sixpence per hundred words, the country suffers a financial loss every year. That is possibly the case. It must be remembered, however, that the loss ihas been going on for many years, and that successive Postmasters-General have not considered it advisable to make a change. The reason is obvious. The newspapers are part of the social life of the community. The public expect from tliem the latest news from all parts of the world at the earliest possible moment, and therefore is prepared to pay any slight loss that might be sustained from the Consolidated Revenue. It must be remembered, also, that u newspsipor is not conducted wholly on the lines of an ordinary commercial concern, It is expected to render many free services to the public, and it does so ungrudgingly. Moreover, it is constantly making free announcements concerning postal, defence and other matters pertaining to the different Government Departments, and will be expected to do so in the future. Therefore the newspapers have a right to .expect some concession from the State, which means the people. Many of the provincial newspapers are already suffering financial disabilities on ncconnt of the. war. The cost of paper has increased. The cable news has hecome greater in bulk. The postage on accounts has been increased, and cheques paid out must bear an extra tax. The new charges made for Press telegrams will compel an increase in advertising rates all round or the closing down of many country ncwspapcis. We cannot imagine it possible that the Government is endeavoring to create monopolies in newspapers, or that it pi\,| oses to crush those provincial journals that arc doing so much to develop the resources of the country districts. And yet, if the new telegraphic and cable charges are persisted in, no other rcsuit can be achieved, unless the alternative Of increased advertising rates is reported to. If the Government could v';vlioate itself of the charge tlfat 1 as frequently been levelled against it of Departmental extravagance, it (night with some show of reason object to the loss over Press telegrams that the public has for years, without protest, expressed its willingness to bear. Under existing conditions, thei new cliarges are not only vexatious, they are intolerable." ' '