A PRESSMAN

Hokitika Guardian, 12 November 1937, Page 2

A PRESSMAN

ROMANTIC CAREER. DAILY MAIL MANAGER. I WELLINGTON, Nov. 8. Once advertising manager to all Lord iSorthclittVs newspapers, but no v retired. Mr Wareliam Smith, 0 f Lon. cion, arrived at Wellington to-day by the Tamaroa. He has been desciibed as the father of modern press advertising and the revenue-producing brain behind Lord Northcliffe’s greatest enterprises. During the War Loan drive In* was instrumental in organising a campaign which raised the enonnouy sum of £160,000,000 in a week, for which he received the official thanks of Mr ifonar Law. Newsboy to Manager. ■small and retiring, Mr Smith was unwilling to say much of his work, but referred interviews to his aut.b.ograpliy “Spilt Ink.” Starting his newspaper experience as a newsboy sei.iug papers in London streets, Mr Smitu joined the Daily Mail in 1896, a few days after its inception. A few years later he was advertisement director of the Daily Mail, Evening News, Weekly Dispatch, Overseas Daily Mail and Daily Mirror, and had a seat on the board of Associated Newspapers. He originated the ideal homey exhib.tions still held annually at Olympia, and founded the Aldwvch Club, of whicu he is fjtill president. War Loan Campaign. During the Great War in 1917, Mr Bonar Law, then Chancellor of the Exchequer, decided it was necessary to find a steady source of income, and started the War Bond campaign, aiming at obtaining £20,000,000 every week. To launch the scheme a special drive was to be Organised under the title of “Business Men’s Week” and Mr Smith was called upon to organise this drive. The result of that work was £168.000,000, far more than had been anticipated in the wildest dreams of the organisers. Mr Smith was afterward appointed Director of Information to the Controller-General of Merchant Shipping-

Mr Smith was with Lord Northcliffe for 25,years, then one day “the Chief” sent for him. He said “Wareham, 1 have consulted my doctor about your health. Ho tells me you may die at any moment, and J don’t want you to die on. my doorstep, lie tells me that with care you may , live quite a long time. In your interests, theiefore, I propqse to retire you and make provision for your future coiniort. Good-bye my dear Wareham.” That was Lord Northcliffe’s way. He liked to have his newspapers run by young men.

Mr Smith retired 15 years ago, and since then he has been travelling lound the world in the English winters and spending the summer in England. This is his first visit to New Zealand.