"THE TIMES."

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 307, 27 December 1924, Page 14

"THE TIMES."

SANCTITY OF FAMOUS PAPER. A PUBLIC TRUST. It is common knowledge that Major John Astor'a action in becoming the principal proprietor and controlling influence of "The Times," London, was exclusively inspired by public spirit. He had no private or particular axe to grind. He ha 3 since cast about with a view of securing "The Times" for all time as a national trust co that it may escape those vicissitudes that occasionally permit important organs to fall into the hands of those who use them either as purely money-making machines or to promote their own personal aggrandisement and euable their proprietors to count above their worth ie the body politic. Major Astor has accordingly agreed to the constitution of a committee ''established for the special purpose of safeguarding future transfers of the controlling shares of "The Times," all of which are held by Jlaior Astor and Mr. John Walter." It is explained in the official communique that this body has no other responsibilities so far as "The Times" is concerned. ]t is not in any case identified either with the management or with the editorial policy. The sole object underlying its appointment is to ensure, so far at is humanely possible, that the ownership of "The Times" shall never be regarded as a mere matter of commerce to be transferred without regard to any other circumstance to the highest bidder, or fall, so far as can be foreseen, into unworthy hands. Laudable Effort. The committee charged with this grave responsibility and delicate duty has been constituted cx-officio, and the following were invited and have consented to serve, namely: The Lord Chief Justice of Kngland. The Warden of All Souls College Oxford. The President of the T!oyal Society. The President of the ' Institute" of Chartered Accountants. The Governor of the Bank of England. The success of this most interesting and laudable effort to preserve "The Times" as a public trust will necessarily depend on the wisdom with which the trustees exercise their functions. We cannot help regretting. says the "National lieview, , ' that they should be exclusively drawn from the noble army of Mugwumps than which there are "a few worsejudges of men or events. Had such a committee been in operation when Lord Northclifle acquired "The Times," the .Mugwump veto would doubtless have been imposed, but had some personage whose spiritual home was in Germany, of the Haldane type, offered himself as principal proprietor of "The Times" during the days of the Ureat Illusion, when to suspect German motives or to hint at, any German danger was almost to write oneself down a lunatic, he would have been accepted with acclamation by the trustees, with the possible result that of late years "The Times" might have had to appear in German characters.