PAPERS MAY BE 3D.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 December 1920, Page 5

PAPERS MAY BE 3D.

HIGH COST OF NEWS PRINT. BEMOVAL OF DUTY SOUGHT. By Wegraph—Presa Association Wellington, Last Night. A meeting of representatives of the metropolitan newspaper companies of New Zealand was held this morning. There were nine present, representing the Dominion, the Evening Post, the New Zealand Timts, the New Zealand Herald, the Chriatcliurch Press, the f-ytteltoh Times, and the Dunedin Evening Star. Jfr. P. Selig was voted to the chair. Sir George Femvick (Otago Daily Times) was unaßle to be present. Mr. H. Brett (Auckland Star) wrote apologising for his absence, and protesting strongly against the price asked by the distributors of Canadian paper. The ohairman explained the nature of the business before the meeting, the principal subject being future supplies of news print, and the new price. He explained the position so far aa he had gathered it in Canada. The price, then ruling in Canada, at the mills, was only about half that which was now being asked by those who had control of the Australian and New Zealand market. The general opinion of the meeting was that at this figure the price of daily papers would have to be increased to threepence per copy. In view of this it was unanimously decided to wait upon the Minister of Customs and request that the 20 per cent, duty on Norwegian and other foreign paper should be either temporarily abolished nv reduced to enable the proprietors to import Norwegian paper. It was also decided to send a cable to the _ distributors of Canadian paper protesting against the extravagant price now asked for this commodity. During the meeting a representative of ten Norwegian mills interviewed those present with a view to arranging future supplies from Norway.

Later the whole of the members present waited as a deputation on the acting-Minister of Customs and fully laid the position before him. Tie promised to place tlie matter before Cabinet at its next meeting.