Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 1938. THE “TIMES-AGE” TO ITS READERS.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 April 1938, Page 8

Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 1938. THE “TIMES-AGE” TO ITS READERS.

In New Zealand even more,, perhaps, than in other countries, provincial newspapers- are identified close:y and intimately with the life, interests and affairs ot the districts they serve. On that account and others, the launching of the “Wairarapa Times-Age” no doubt will be regarded, not only as a promising forward step m newspaper enterprise, but as an event of note in tie progress of the district. Two old-established paper „ “Wairarapa Daily Times” and the “Wairarapa Age have entered into a voluntary amalgamation on even terms in order that their combined resources may be concentrated upon the production of the enlarged and improved evening paper which here makes _ its niitia appearance. The Wairarapa as a whole obviously has muci to gain from an enterprise which ensures a better ana more comprehensive news and publicity service than has hitherto been practicable and may be expected also .to contribute to the further advancement ot the distuc and to the fostering of new undertakings for which its rural and other areas afford splendid scope.

The “Times-Age” opens its career and takes up its task sustained by. a belief that it will be. able in many ways to render helpful and acceptable service to the community—encouraged, too, by the knowledge that it has the opportunity of building upon a foundation laid faith- i fully and well, over a long period of years, by the preae-J cessors it now supersedes. The essential aim. of this paper is to be an effective medium of news and publicity for the whole Wairarapa. In pursuing that aim, it will not only provide adequate and comprehensive services of district news, but will keep its readers. constantly in touch with affairs throughout the Dominion and in the Empire and world beyond. These are not days in which to pander to a parochial outlook, but in a district like this, capable of enormous further expansion and development which will enable it to carry a far greater, population, there is highly important work to be done in helping to bring all sections of the people in town and country into understanding and agreement that will conduce to the advancement of their common interests, and welfare. A provincial paper has its full. part, to play in doing what/ is possible to inform and guide public opinion on questions of national and Imperial as well as district range. The “Times-Age” will make. . every effort as time goes on to throw light on the political and other issues of the day. In doing so, it will adopt and adheie studiously to an independent standpoint, refusing to be tied down at any point to a party outlook.. Political parties serve their useful and necessary, but inevitably limited, purpose. A newspaper, in any country which enjoys the blessing of democratic freedom, has a larger purpose to serve and a broader duty to perform than any political party can hope to undertake. The aim of this paper is to deal on their merits, from a standpoint or principle, with proposals or measures affecting the welfare of New Zealand and its people. The assertion of independence, as that term is here used. and understood, by no means implies an inability or unwillingness to distinguish, sharply if need be, between the observance or neglect of sound principles in the conduct of local, national, or Imperial affairs. It is a matter simply of putting the greater above the less, and of giving attention primarily to those things that matter most. Opening its career to-day, the “Times-Age” confidently invites the support of the people in all parts of the. Wairarapa to whom it offers loyal, constant and helpful service-.