NO PARALLEL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17329, 18 November 1916, Page 8

NO PARALLEL.

Tnv. correspondent whose letter on war prices we print this morning complains that wo justify the London “Times” in raising the prico of its newspaper Mid “deprecate tho farmers asking a price for their products on tho same basis as the hig London pnper.” \Ve pass by our friend’s little pleasantries at our expense, 'aiul content ourselves with saying that tliorc is absolutely no parallel in the two cases mentioned. “The Times” is compelled io put some check on its war losses, while the producer appears anxious to increase his already excessive war gains. There is possibly a popular fallacy that the war is good for the newspapers in tho sense that it increases their circulations. If our correspondent thinks that, we may tell him that the cost of all materials, particularly of printing paper, has been .going up by leaps and bounds during the'last two years, and that their proprietors have been marvellously patient. Indeed, without boasting so far as our own humble part is concerned, we think the newspaper lb-ess of tho Empire lias not only borne its share of the financial burden bravely but has also performed a great patriotic service in maintaining costly news services, in publishing columns of matter nearly every day advertising funds and acknowledging subscriptions, in closely studying recruiting subjects, political questions and economic problems. Tho newspapers as a whole have, we are sure, rendered the nation valuable service, and have been the direct means of promoting policies and securing action calculated to further the cause of the Allies. Professionally, we hope and believe the newspaper Press has fully upheld its traditions and proved itself a great and indispensable institution. Commercially, it has had to suffer enormous additional expense, while journalistic enterprise has constantly been sacrificed by the suppression of all news which might conceivably embarrass the authorities. We do not doubt that “The Times” was forced to protect itself against further and increasing loss of money, and that the penny issue was maintained up till the other day under heavy sacrifice. The producers of New’ Zealand, on the other hand, have enjoyed because of the war unparalleled and steadily growing prosperity, at the expense of the Mother Country.