The North Otago Times FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1910 FUTURE OF "THE TIMES."

North Otago Times, Volume CIV, Issue 13661, 1 September 1916, Page 2

The North Otago Times FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1910 FUTURE OF "THE TIMES."

'Nothing astonishes the visitor-to New Zealand more tlum the number of 'highclass daily newspapers published in the country, and no force has such a moulding inlluence upon Hie aspiration's and character of the people than the mass of information that is daily and nightly poured from the newspaper offices for the amusement and edification of' the people. Jn spite of the speed at which the newspapers are produced the news is presented with a singularly accurate perception of the relative importance of things. The daily newspaper has its place in every well-ordered community and every home, for it can be claimed for the press of New Zealand that it is singularly incorrupt, and every newspaper worthy of the name makes good use of the great power acquired by the freedom of the press. Whenever the deserving poor requires compassionate assistance, wlteucver subject .races are

groaning under the oppression of tyrants, whenever there is a grievance to be remedied or a- wrong to be put right, our newspaper press may lie relied upon to step into the breach and divert into the Hecessary channel enough of the irresistible force of public opinion to sweep ,'iway abuses.<unl advance ■reform. Indeed New Zealand isjustly proud of the usefulness ami incorruptibility of the free and national institution expressed in the two words "The Press," Like all- human institutions the press has to face varied vicissitudes; it has, to use the vernacular, "its ups and downs,'.!.._" The North Otago Times" during il_s long pdJipotirahle. record of-over half a cciiiin , y;'luis~had'to rise superior to apparently insurmountable difficulties. Thanks, however, to the loyalty of its staff, the courage of its owners, ami 'the generous .support of the people of Oamarii and North Otago, this journal has lived through all the troublous days and weathered all the storms that have oft-times threatened.the very existence of the paper since it,first made its appearance "in those long-forgotten days before Oamaru gained dignified rank as n municipality. 'The whirligig of time and varying fortune have necessitated many changes of control and ownership and to-day—the first day of .spring—V The Times" is published under the direction of its.-now owners. The limited liability company' ivhjdi was incorporated some lliree years ago with the object of establishing'a.thoroughly up-to-date newspaper upon the foundation of the reputation that had been made by the men who had borne

the heat anil .burden of the troublous days that are now but memories,' decided sonic few weeks ago to dispose of "The Times" as a going concern, i expressing the earnest hope thai the publication of the paper would be continued upon lines worthy of the high standard that had been maintained in the past and in a maimer befitting the importance of the'town and district. It is our pleasure to announce that "The Times'' has been purchased by a new company, and it is the intention to continue the publication of the paper upon thoroughly progressive and iip-lu-ilate lines, It is not possible at this early stage to announce the new proprietors' proposals and intentions—a full statement in that direction will be made in due course. The new proprietors, however, wish to announce that they have retained the services of the majority of the members of the staff and face the future with a confidence bom of the knowledge that by providing the people of Oamani and North Otago with a thoroughly up-to-date, free and independent daily' newspaper they will have no cause to regret their enterprise or slacken their efforts to maintain Oamaru's position—as far as the standard of journalism is concerned—among the leading boroughs of the 'Dominion.