PINK NEWSPAPER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 204, 30 August 1933, Page 10

PINK NEWSPAPER.

DELIVERY METHODS. "HOME WITH THE MILK." HEALTH OFFICIALS INTERVENE (From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, August 23. The morning journal issued by Associated Newspapers, which used to be known as the "Daily Telegraph," is now the "Telegraph," and its colour has turned from yellowish white to a pale and rather indecisive pink. This transformation has had the effect of reminding some of its older readers of a sporting sheet that enjoyed an immense vogue in London before the close of last century—"the Little Pinlc 'Un." But the rather unsavoury reputation of that little journal has not deterred the proprietors of the "Telegraph" from sticking to the colour that they have chosen. However, in its early issues, the new paper became involved in rather a curious dispute with the Public Health authorities. One of the subjects that it took up to emphasise the new phase of its existence was pure milk, which it advocated in a slightly impassioned style as the ideal food for young and old. It then approached a large number of the milk distributing firms, pointed out that these words of wisdom oujrht to be diffused as widely as possible, and suggested that it would benefit the milk trade as well as its own business if copies of the "Telegraph" were taken round with the morning's milk. The companies agreed, and 50,000 copies of the "Telegraph" issue "boosting" pure milk were taken round with the morning's milk supplies, and given away for nothing. Several Objections. But this convenient arrangement could hardly be expected to last. For the milk men did not want to be worried with other responsibilities; they were bound bv their contract to deliver milk and nothing else; the "Labour Daily" as a competing newspaper, objected to the facilities for circulation thus supplied to a rival; and for various reasons, a number of people brought the matter under the notice of the Public Health Department. It seems that the Milk and Ice Carters' Union entertains strong objection to any arrangement that compels its members to do any work outside the job for which they are paid. Also the Pure Food Act insists that 110 article used for the transport of milk shall be employed at the same time for any other purpose. For these reasons the "Telegraph" was forced to make other arrangements, but seemingly it. succeeded, at least partially, in evading the pure food embargo by sending round bicycles to accompany the milk carts. "Pinkie." Possibly as a temporary expedient the idea of free distribution along with the morning's milk was a good one. But the "Telegraph," by this little experiment has secured for itself much questionable notoriety. It happens that in Sydney "pinkie" is the slang name for a cheap and particularly fiery and violently intoxicating form of wine, which ranks a little above "metho" or a "Hyde Park cocktail" —which is "metho" and boot polish—as a "refresher." The "Labour Daily" at once inquired if the "Telegraph" had become pink because it was half converted to Communism or because it drove most of its readers to violent insanity—the fact that it "came home with the milk in the morning," suggesting an oblique reference to* "D.T.'s" (once its own proud initials) and to the "Pink Elephants" immortalised in a once popular music hall ditty. Altogether from the point of view of humour the "Labour Daily" scored off the "Telegraph," and it is probable that Associated iSTewspapers have already repented that they adopted this special colour to signalise its fifth, and probably its last, incarnation.