NEWSPRINT SHORTAGE

Evening Star, Issue 17365, 29 May 1920, Page 12

NEWSPRINT SHORTAGE

MEETING AT WELLINGTON. THE rOSITION SERIOUS. [Per United Pebss Association.] . . WELLINGTON, May 28. The critical position of many New Zealand newspapers, due to the shortage of newsprint paper supplies, was responsible for a bis; gathering of newspaper proprietors at Wellington to-day. The meeting was called by the Now Zealand Newspaper Proprietors' Association, and was attended by representatives of praeticallv tho whole of the daily Press of the Dominion. Mr C. Earle, who presided, explained that the meeting had been called in order f-hat newspaper proprietors might learn at first hand from the principal suppliers of newsprint paper to the Press of New Zealand. exactly what the position was ahead of tnern. Owing to the ccarcity of printing paper and the irregularitv of shinmeuts many newspapers had readied an exceedingly critical stage. Some had onlv a week's, supply of paper in stock, and could net be certain whether additional supples would come to hand in time to enable them to avoid the necessity of closing down. It was hoped that all newspapers holding reserves of paper stock would assist, as gome of them had alreadv dono, those less fortunately situated, until the present exceptional pinch had passed. Mr W. IS. Carmichael, representative of _ several Canadian paper mills, and the principal .supplier of newsprint paper to New Zealand, outlined the efforts he had made to keep the Dominion newspapers going in the face- of heavy difficulties. A world shortage of paoer, resulting from ar. abnormal demand in the United Ftat.es, Canada, and elsewhere, flowing on the war. had made it impossible at times to buy paper at any price. The existing shortage was. in his opinion, likely to continue tor some time, and he strongly urged the practice of every possible economy to save paper and build up reserves against possible contingencies in the future. With eeonomy and mutual help between newspaper proprietors he considered that supplier he had been able to arrange for would about enable the Now Zealand Press to tide over their oresent difficulties. To be on the safe , ? ide, however, they would have to restrict the size of their papers and reduce consumption for the time being to the lowest possible limit. Mr Car-mh-hael promised to do his utmost to relieve the situation; but unless those newspapers holding reserve stocks wore willing to co-operate, it would be difficult for him to do very much in the matter of this year's supplies. In the course of a discussion which followed a number of those pre.-ent pointed out the difficulties which confronted them in securing delivery of orders, and a list handed in disclosed the fact that in several instances stocks in hand were insuPueieut to enable publication beyond a few weeks' time. It was decided t-n send a circular to the members of the Newspaper Proprietor;;' Association urging that" all members who have reseive stocks on hand fhould a-.?i*t those in short supply by authorising Mr Carmiehael to divc-t the whole or a portion of the balance of their supplies, due tor delivery this year, to more necessitous cases. 11 was further resolved that, in view of the critical situation arising out of the scarcity of newsprint, proprietors be urged to conserve supplies to the utmost of their ability, and to reduce the size of tlrir papers wherever possible. The question of the curtailment of advertising spaces was discussed, and it was resolved— - " That in view of the uncertainty regarding future newsprint supplies and the enormous increase in the price of newsprint, proprietors be urged to abstain for the present from entering into advertising cents-acts for a lon.-er period than three months." A resolution specially thanking Mr C'armichael for his ctforts to secure supplies, and expressing approbation o£ his services generally, was catried.