The Press. THURSDAY, MAY 25, 1911. JUBILEE OF "THE PRESS."

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14052, 25 May 1911, Page 10

The Press. THURSDAY, MAY 25, 1911. JUBILEE OF "THE PRESS."

To-day "The Press". completes the fiftieth year of its existence, and those at present engaged in its servico, no matter in what capacity, would not bo human did they not feel a glow of pride and satisfaction ns they read the kindly greetings -and generous tributes which havo reached us from far and near. Especially pioud and grateful are wo that tho great Statesman whose name will ever stand among the hishest in tho bead-roll of the British Empire, should, in his retirement at Cannes, havo given fresh proof of his continued interest in the affairs of even the outer marches of the King's Dominion's by sending us such a gracious and inspiring message as that which wo aro privileged to print to-day. His Excellency tho Governor

of New Zealand, and the distinguished

servants of the Crown who filled his , high office beforo him, havo led tho way in congratulations and expressions of goodwill, in which it would seem that representatives of all classes and shades of opinion have found a genuine pleasure in taking part. Tho Prime Minister has joiued with tho Leader 'of the Opposition in wishing success • to "Tho Press," and, indeed, it is ono elf tho most gratifying features of this auspicious occasion that many to whom we aro politically opposed are good enough and generous enough to say that this journal has been a fair fighter, that it has qualities which they _d mi re,- and that they wish it well. Need wo say also that tho fraternal greetings of our brethren of the pen in England, Australia, and New Zealand, including many of tho highest distinction in the profession, aro peculiarly welcome, even although we may fool that a generous spirit of "camaraderie" may havo .led them to say much more than is really deserved. ' ' But the glow of pride.and satisfaction naturally evoked by such a handsome display of encouraging goodwill, soon gives place, upon reflection, to

more subdued feelings. "Not unto

us the praise." It is impos- ! r eible not to remember on.the one hand that if "The Press" to-day stands well __-M_i_ii_»i__M i J ~ -'" ; ,:r '" .i

fact is chiefly due to the high ideals of its founder, and to the character and ability of his immediate successors. Both its tone and its prosperity are due moreover in no small degree to the fortunate fact that 'The Press" was planted in a community where public opinion was tuned to a high pitch from tho first, and peopled with men of progressive spirit and keen industry, who, in building up tho prosperity of the district, helped in no small way to build up the prosperity of 'The Press." We cannot too often insist on thc debt which Canterbury owes to its founders, whoso fine aspirations and lofty conceptions of their duty to tlieir adopted country hnvo proved a deep and abiding influence, moulding the character of the Press as well as other institutions of the district. "The Press," it is well known, although the first daily paper published in Cantorbury, already had in tho field a vigorous competitor, who may bo said to have come out with the first four ships, seeing that at any rate its body, in the shape of a printing press and types, and its spirit embodied in an editor, accompanied those enlightened and far-seeing colonists. And, believing as wo do in tho value of competition as a stimulus to effort, we cannot help thinking that a good deal of the success of "Tho Press" today is due to tho fact that it has had from the first an enterprising rival to represent the opposite side of opinion, and generally to keep it up to the mark. Tho founder of "Tlie Press," as we havo said, started with no mean ideals. "We mean, please God," ho wrote to his earliest contributor, Dean Jacobs, " to have the first paper in the colony, "and to elevate and vindicate the "Press." From the outset he was determined to set a high literary standard. The first "working editor" of "Tho Press" was a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, and the second was a distinguished scholar of Oxford. More important still, tho early writers had an exquisite sense of English stylo —of the fit word, fitly placed—and a delightful senso of humour. "The Press" of today, in common with other journals, has enormous advantages for tho rapid collection of news and for the mechanical production of copies. But, in looking over tho early files of the journal, wo have to confess, with a feeling of envy mingled with a certain amour., of pride, that for high literary quality, tho artioles which it published, labouring under every kind of disadvantage, forty or fifty years ago, are unsurpassed by tho best writing in the leading English journals of to-day. From the first, too, tho keynote of "The Press" was outspokenness and courage. "Nihil "utile quod non honestum" was its motto, still borne on its leader-page to remind the _mcce_-ors of the first editor of the ideals with which tho paper was founded, and tho duty which devolves on all charged wiflfe its conduct of "keeping tho flag flying." FitzGerald seems to have taken to heart the spirit underlying George Herbert's lines— Do all things like a man, net sneakingly; Think the king sees thee still; for hie King dots. Ho spoke and wrote his mind, honestly, openly and without fear or affection. It followed that at times "The Press" was on the unpopular sido, as it has been many times since when it disdained to trim its sails to catch the wind of passing phases "of publio

Do all things like a man, net sneakingly; Think the king sees thee .till; for hi. King dofca. Ho spoke and wrote his mind, honestly, openly and without fear or affection. It followed that at times "The Press" was on the unpopular sido, as it has been many times since when it disdained to trim ita sails to catch the wind of passing phases "of publio opinion, preferring to adhere to principles which it believed to be for the tiltimate good, not only of the Dominion but of mankind.

Wo began with a feeling of gratitude to friends and a passing glow of satisfaction. The gratitude remains, but is tempered with a sense of anxious responsibility as regards the future. It is impossible to "live up" to all the friendly praise that has been showered upon us in such generous meaenrp. The ideals of those who built up the paper in the past remain as an inspiration, but they, too, are hard to reach. The principles which guided "The Press" at its outset remain almost unchanged ns the backbone of its policy. We can but continue to bear aloft the standard handed to us by those who have gone before, trusting to carry it with a» little drooping as possible, and firmly resolved that, as far as in us lies, it shall never be besmirched.