"A MAN WHO DARED."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18170, 16 August 1922, Page 12

"A MAN WHO DARED."

LORD NORTHCUFFE'S LIFE, | UNIQUE ACHIEVEMENTS. fOWER DURING THE WAR. | Admired, hated, and envied, Lord Northcliffe has died at the age o? 57 years, leaving a record of accomplishment in joamauam vrhich is unique. Ho has come to an early end, because, since the days of his youth, he has thrown every atom of his energy into his work. He has driven himself as if he had been a machine. He had more than the "infinite capacity for taking pains." which is called genius. He had imagination, he had courage, ho regarded nothing as beyond his reach. Ee was a man who dared. And thus it was that from small beginnings he pressed en, revolutionised British journalism, obtained control of a vast nnmber of publications, and wielded a power, particularly during the war, which many poople believed to be far too great for one individual. There has been frequent criticism of his relentless methods. It has been asserted that his papers at times have made onslaughts upon the more for the sake of sensation and circulation than for the good of the country, but it generally will be admitted that Lord Northcliffe has been a true patriot, whose course has always been dictated by a burning desire for his country's good. His Debut in Journalism. At the age of 15. Alfred Charles Harmsworth made his debut in journalism as editor of a school magazine. The first issue contained a sentence which might well have been his motto throughout life. I' I have it on the best authority." he wrote, " that this paper is to be a marked success." In the second number he wrote: " I am glad to say that my prediction as to the success of this magazine proved correct." At 16 Harmsworth was writing for the Young Folk's Budget, and at 17 was editor of a weekly paper, Youth: During the next few years he made his first acquaintance with the London dailies, largely as a contributor, and at 21 founded Answers, that popular miscellany, which laid the foundation of his fortune and his career. In t'ne next decade he had extended his enterprise in many directions, controlling some 40 publications, ranging from Comic Cuts to the London Magazine. Nearly always there was success. He had the gift "of finding what tha public wanted, and produced it. It has been said that he knew what the man in the street would think the day after to-morrow. First Big Plunge Taken. About tie end of lus twenties, he took his fir3t plunge into daily journalism as an owner. * The Evening News, upon which the Conservative Party had spent between £500,000 and £400,000, was for sale. He and his brother, Lord Rothermere, were asked if they vonld adventure £25,000 in buying it. After careful investigation they did, and in two months it was on its feet'. This success paved the way for a long-cherished desire to launch a morning daily. This eventuated two years later, in 1896, by the establishment oi the Daily Mail, which won instant favour. An issue of 100,000 copies had been prepared for, but no less than 397,215 had to be printed, and arrangements had to be made with other printing establishments for the use of their plants, while further machinery was beuig set up. During the Boer War the Daily Mail reached a circulation of'•over 1,000,000 copies, and a replica of the London edition was being published at Manchester, whence it was sent as far as Aberdeen in time for the breakfast table. Later, a Paris edition was established. Twelve years later Lord Northcliffe purchased a controlling interest in the Times, and recently he bought out the remaining interests. Services in the War. ]'t was during the war that the Northcliffe newspapers raised hornets' nests bytelling what many people thought should not have been disclosed. It was the Daily Mail that revealed the shell shortage, as a result of which the Ministry of Munitions came into being. For its attacks upon Lord Kitchener and others at such a time of crisis, it aroused intense hostility in various quarters, and on one occasion was burned on the London Stock Exchaijge. Yet the man who aroused such anger among patriotic Britishera became Director of Propaganda in Enemy Countries, and in that capacity brought all his powers of organisation, all his force and thoroughness to a task which is now admitted as having had a tremendous effect upon the war. He also was chairman of the British War Mission to the United States, and director of tha Civil Aerial Transport Committee. Lord Riddell, one of the best known of London newspaper owners, said oh Lord Northcliffe: —" During the war I was brought into very close touch with Lord Northcliffe and had special facilities for seeing what he did and what his organisation did. From the first to the last Lord Northcliffe bad but one motive and object in view—bis only object was victory. No sacrifices were too great on his part ox on the part- of those who worked with him in order to securs* that end. Indeed, I think I am justified in saying that the breakdown of Lord Northcliffe'o health was due in a great measure to a trip which he took to America for the purpose '*' of performing :most important public duties. lam confident of this, that when history comes to be written. Lord Northcliffe's work in the war wili hold a high place in the records of British achievement." s Faith is Aviation. His war service in connection with aviation recalls the fact that he was the firso magnate to place his faith in tha development of aviation. In 1906 he saw Santos Dumont hop 100 feet in an aeroplane. On the spot ho became convinced not only that flying was the coming sport but that airmanship would be a great factor in future warfare. He offered a prize of £10,000 for the first mechanical flight from London to Manchester in 24 hours, with not more than two stops. The offer was the subject of jest everywhere, Punch offering £2,000,000 to anyone who could fly to Mars. An editorial m one of the Northcliffe papers declared that while aviation was bound to come, it would be long delayed because ali progress was alow . Th& nexfc morning SS«. rS foUowiQ g telegram from Lord Northcliffe: "Stop writing such rot. ine aeroplane will come much quicker man you think. Be optimistic about it." Unce again his anticipation of the event proved correct. In four years the prize yißh won. r rSk f °* r< f gU in bu siness doubtless has W hlf ed TTh* h toward his BUCC ««. t? n |yS* fore the W{ * he obtained a tract ?«J2n . s< ? aare Wiles of forest in NewSS ~'• CBt *blished paper mills, and Falk vV UP u ply - Tl»town of Grand raus, which has grown in connection with this paper-making industry, is now the second city in Newfoundland. „JT l !*i in a late edition of yesterday's Herald.], PAINLESS EXTRACTIONS AND ™ AFTER EFFECTS. N0 m For 20 years, while keeping t cental science and develoni™ of branch of the profession, wS &, * CV ?7 ised T in aIL aav ° specialNot by having men tw t, „ the varied workfbut bvnb£i,J andle - aU isaticn-by the' concStr'aSn" 1 "^ 0 specialisfc upon one section <>ach Our Mr. F. Ballin has devoted T,; «• to extractions, and C *%&s**% of the^fe2sS, a ICader m this br Let My. Ballin advise you on the car* rf your teeth .[f extractions are needed we guarantee that you wiU feel no pain' Make an appointment personally or bv