SMALLER PAPERS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 153, 31 May 1941, Page 6

SMALLER PAPERS

PAGES LIMITED. TO CONSERVE NEWSPRINT A further cut in the sizes of newspapers in the Dominion is announced by the Newspaper Proprietors Associaj tion to take place oil Monday next, 'June 2. Imports of newsprint paper I have already been severely curtailed and in view of the generally unsettled conditions regarding shipping transport, it has been deemed necessary to | -take steps to ensure that existing reserves of stocks held within the Dominion should be made to last as iong as is reasonably possible. I As a result of representations made i by the Ministry of Supply the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association has undertaken to co-operate in the enforcement of economies in the consumption of newsprint which will assist to safeguard the future. Newspapers generally will be reduced in size, but practically all the main news services now supplied to the public will be maintained. This is considered essential to the public interest. Where it is necessary to curtail advertising space advertisers will find compensation in the fact that, broadly speaking, they will be able to retain their customary proportion of space to the reduced size of the papers. An! increase in advertising rates to offset in part the lessened volume of advertising has been authorised by the Price Tribunal, but the purpose aimed at is to ensure the fullest possible pub-, licitv for advertisers without addition: to their total cost.

j The cut now imposed on newspapers I is the third in twelve months. Since tlie introduction of the first one we j have had to dispense with a number j ot features, but it is hoped to preserve I those that remain, lor the policy laid j down by the Newspaper Proprietors' | Association—again with the approval jof the Government—is that the pres- ! cut reduction should he made with the least possible effect upon the quality j and the variety oi the news services. ! This implies a strict regulation of the j ! space available for advertising and it-. j «as after a thorough investigation of | the position that the Price Tribunal i authorised an increase in advertising j rates that will partly meet the loss lof revenue caused by the reduction lin volume oi advertising. The news I itself must be more concisely pres- | ented, but in doing tliis a full servicei | will be retained. It will not be possible, | however, in the altered circumstances, 'to give the same liberal publicity to j [sports teams, handicaps, etc., as in the ; past. i As the greatest care must be exor-i I cised not to exceed the Governments allocation of newsprint each month, j residents who are accustomed to buy | casual copies of the “Ma.nawatu Stand-' I arc!” arc advised to become subscribers I to ensure regular receipt of their copy. [ I m