SHORTAGE OF PAPER.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 July 1920, Page 5

SHORTAGE OF PAPER.

PLEA TO REDUCE NEWSPAPERS. (By Wire.—Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Last Night. The shortage of paper was again referred to in the House to-day, and again by Dr. Thacker. His complaint was that he had been unable to, get a copy of some paper, and that on other occasions he had not been able to get copies of Dills to give lo interested parties. He suggested that i!ie Government should "curtail the squander advertisements in_ the daily papers," in order to save enough paper to enable the Government to let members have copies of Bills and other papers. The Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr. Anderson) replied: "The ' honorable gentleman had not the courtesy to toll me he was going to raise this question. It should be quite clear to the honorablo member, as it is clear to me, why he cannot get the Bills he wants. It has been reported to this House that we arc short of paper, and he knows that we aro short as we'll as I know, and we have to put up with the shortage. Wo have had large orders out for months for paper. For months we have had paper at the docl« in London, but we cannot get it here. As to what he speaks of doing with regard to the newspapers, he wants to throw*a number of worthy people out of work by curtailing the size of the newspapers, and I may tell -him that the Government is not going to do it." In conclusion, ho asked the honorable member to put up with the inconvenience, which was felt by all members, while the shortage continued.

In a later debate this demand of Dr. Thackcr for a reduction in the size of newspapers was referred to by Mr. D. Jones. He said that Dr. Thacker was very unkind to the newspapers, seeing that he had a full-page report of Jiis speech in the House published in Christchurch last week. An lion, member: He paid for that. Mr. Jones: Of course. Dr. Thaeker had another, opportunity of referring to this matter, and he suggested that there should be some tax on the squander advertisements in the newspapers. Mr. Jones: What about your big speech. Dr. Thaeker: Yes, but I paid for that. An hon. member: That was a waste of paper.