World Happenings Mirrored in Auckland Weekly News

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21647, 13 November 1933, Page 8 (Supplement)

World Happenings Mirrored in Auckland Weekly News

■vSKSSKD of a renown that is international in its scope, tlio Auckland Weekly News is a more trifle younger than its companion, the New Zealand Herald. It will celebrate its 70th birthday a fortnight hence. It was Oil November 28, 18(5.'}, that the journal was first issued from the offices of tho Southern Cross, principally as a paper intended to cater for the pioneer settlers of the young colony. To-day it holds a proud place among the news periodicals of the world. Its appeal is not restricted to any one section of the reading public and its circulation extends far beyond the confines of New Zealand. No other newspaper in the Dominion has a circulation so widely distributed. The first number of the Weekly Nkws consisted of 16 pages and recorded the defeat of tlie Maoris at Kangiriri. It was a somewhat inconspicuous paper compared with tho largo illustrated issues to-day, but the journal met with an eager reception and progressed rapidly. "When tho Heham) and the Southern Cross amalgamated in 1877 the Weekly Herald, issued from the offices of the former paper, became incorporated with the Weekly News. Tho paper continued to grow in circulation and strength, so much so that Sir George Grey once alluded to it in Parliament. " Iho northern settlers," he said, " tako their religion from the Bible and their politics from the Auckland Weekly News, these being their principal sources of information." The Auckland Weekly News has played an important part in the promotion of settlement in the Dominion. From its earliest days it has consistently proclaimed the advantages possessed bv New Zealand in its fertile lands and favourable climate. Copies of tho journal soon began to reach tho friends and relatives in other lands of the earlv settlers, so that inquiries came to the office from all parts of the British Isles for information relating to land for settlement. As communication in the colony improved and more frequent mail services overseas were established, the Weekly News became more and more popular. In the country districts, children learned to read from its pages and their parents, in hundreds of cases, were the teachers. Jhe paper was their only means of obtaining iiiformation of the outside world. Then too, it formed a fine medium lor letting tho folks at Homo know how the people here lived and what a splendid little country it was that had won tho lovo and loyalty of its sturdy people.

ONE of the major achievements standing to the credit of the Auckland Weekly News was the publication of the first earthquake issue after the disaster in Hawke's Bay in 1931. Special aeroplanes had been chartered to bring many of the photographs to Auckland, and the huge printing presses ran continuously f»r over three days and devoured almost 100 tons of paper to turn oat 191,300 copies. In spite of a continued demand printing had to be stopped for the machines to be prepared for the next week s issue.

Jfc had over boon ilic policy of tlie paper to sec that the Maoris were treated fairly and justlv and this was so well recognised that many important chiefs frequently impressed upon their people that the newspaper was their friend. That tradition has been handed down and to-day the native people are among the keenest admirers of what they have come to regard as their particular journal above all others. he never the Maoris wish to let the pakehas know something or other tlioy always naturally write to the Wk kki.y Nkws and address the editor as their " good brother and friend." As the railways began to penetrate tho country and the dairy industry was becoming established in the Auckland Province, inquiries from intending settlers became so frequent that the newspaper office assumed almost the importance of an immigration bureau. An intensive settlement policy was inaugurated. The fcrtilo lands of the Waikato were described in a series of articles, which attracted widespread attention notwithstanding the belief, fostered in some cases in official circles, that the district was ununited to dairying. Then the Hay of Plenty, the Thames Valley, North Auckland and the King Country were dealt with. A wave of settlement set in; indeed, it was so groat that the South Island began to fear it was going to lose far too great a proportion of its population to the warmer North. It was openly said that soon there would lie few marriageable young men left in the South. Tho Wkkki.y Nkws assisted this settlement in very large part. It was no uncommon experience for the editor to receive over a score of visitors daily, anxious to obtain first-hand information about some particular district. Alter the berthing of an immigrant ship the office was often crowded by arrivals from overseas seeking details of lands and travel routes. All the Auckland Province and many other parts of the North Island owe much to tho popular journal which, by its graphic articles and sound practical advice, attracted the great tide of .settlement. Many hundreds of people who have since won good farms and comfortable homos first learned of their districts through its pages and arrived with little or no capital but their ability to tame the wilderness. The newspaper has developed with the times. It has always remained the first friend of the country dweller. The agricultural and pastoral section of the journal now forms tho most up-to-date and valuable farm magazine published in Now Zealand and the primary producers find their every need catered for as completely and oliioiontly as in any part of the world. Kaeh week the cream of the Dominion and overseas news is prepared in a form that is highly popular everywhere and that, in large part, accounts for tho great circulation of tho paper. In addition to the news section the magazine pages include topical articles by wellknown writers, the ever-popular serials by famous authors, and reading matter for all members of the family. The Wekkt,y Nkws was the first journal in Now Zealand to specially feature the short story national of the Dominion. It sought to encourage the young writers of New Zealand to break away from old-fashioned and time-worn tradition and utilise tho wondrous scenery, the clean and virile life of tho people, the bright skies and happy atmosphere, tno fascinating Maori legends and tho romance and tradition of their own beautiful land as tho background for their literary efforts. Many talented New Zealanders who have since made their mark in literature

received their first encouragement and their rudimentary training from tlie editor of New Zealand's great national weekly. Not only the adult stories characteristic of New Zealand life, hut the stories for children also liavo become a recognised feature and many schools, quick to see their great value, cut them out each week, paste them on a card index system and use them for reading lessons. The introduction of an illustrated section in 1898 was an event of importance in the history of Now Zealand journalism and won for the Wkkki.y Nkws an enhanced prestige. There were then 5G pages of reading matter and the illustrated section at first comprised four pages. This marked a notable innovation and was accorded instant appreciation. Before lon<>; tlio illustrated section was doubled in size and later expanded further to 12 or 10 pictorial pages in each issue. The first special supplement containing photographic illustrations was published on April 30, 1898, when the American-Spanish war was the principal item of world interest. The illustrations included a large half-tone view of Havana, then under blockade by American warships, and a portrait of President McKinley. The pictures by no means completely filled the four-page supplement, but they were a distinct novelty. Previously engravings had been used only rarely for purposes of newspaper illustration. From May of that year the illustrated supplements became regular weekly features of the jtaper. The quality of reproduction, even in the earlier issues, was remarkably good,

but it improved almost with every issue. Tho illustrated supplement grew in size and the space in it occupied by letterpress gradually decreased. On July 3, 191.3, the Weekly Graphic became incorporated with the Wkkki.y Nkws and the paper was permanently enlarged. Before then, however, the illustrated section had been shaped into approximately the same form that is so well known to-day. Full-page illustrations were by no means uncommon and special pride was always taken in having every picture perfectly reproduced. Tho news photographer's quest for "copy" gives rise to adventurous interludes perhaps even more frequently than the reporter's search for news. Speed is tho essence of both jobs. The Wkkki.y Nkws maintains a large staff of qualified neWs photographers to give its readers local pictorial news. Over the length and breadth of New Zealand their cameras have chronicled important happenings and pictured scenic beauty. With special expeditions, organised by tho paper, they have actually blazed new scenic trails and liavo penetrated into remoto districts previously unknown to white men in New Zealand. They have explored the untamed back country in the magnificent fiordland of tho South Island; they have become oxpert mountaineers and alpinists to secure pictures of glorious snow-covered peaks; they have carried their packs over tho rough ridges of tho gaunt Kainianawas with hardy pig hunters; they have traversed literally miles of country from North Capo to Stewart Island. Tboir's is a life of infinite variety, but it is anything but a life of unbroken ease. Few people who admire illustrations secured from remote districts can appreciate how much genuinely hard work and careful organisation have been employed in securing the photographs.

GREATEST NATIONAL NEWSPAPER

In addition to the regular staff there is an "agent photographer" in every town of importance in the Dominion, while amateur photographers have frequently provided pictures of exceptional interest. Throughout its career tfie Wkkkly Nkws has always encouraged amateur photographers and has promoted competitions among them at regular intervals. But the illustrations of the Wkkkly Nkws are not confined merely to subjects with a New Zealand interest. Pictures are obtained from leading agencies all ovm the world, and service is so thoroughly organised that important happenings thousands of miles from the Dominion are illustrated within :i few weeks. The system has been built up by years of experience and now that pictorial treatment lias spread generally to daily journalism the HKHAIJ) benefits from the fields cultivated by the Weekly Nkws. Tho reproduction of pictures in any newspaper is of necessity a costly matter, as the making of half-tone blocks is a highlyskilled process. This work in the Weekly News has always been in the hands of experts, with the result that the paper is acknowledged to have one of the finest process staffs in the world. This is also reflected in the illustrations in the Herald and in countless private publications issued from the Hkuai.d office. The process department is generally one of the most interesting in any large newspaper office. Here tho work of the photographer, the chemist, the skilled engraver and etcher and the artist are all combined to produce tho illustrations

which are now regarded as the necessary adjunct of news articles. From the time a photograph is taken many operations have to be performed before the half-tone block is set up in a page ready for printing. In recent years many scientific advances have been made in the art of process engraving. The Weekly News lias kept thoroughly abreast of all technical developments, and, in addition, has taken pains to obtain outstanding photographic " copy" from the far-flung corners of the world. The Weekly News is one of thy largest general newspapers in the world, and the actual work of printing is no small task. The letterpress is printed on gigantic rotary machines, fed with reeled paper, similar to those used in the production of the Herald. However, additional care is taken in the printing of the illustrations, for which paper of a higher grade than the ordinary newsprint is used. Tho pictorial section has to be printed on flat-bed machines on largo sheets equal in dimensions to eight pages. These machines used to be fed by hand, but they are now equipped with an automatic feed and delivery, enabling each machine to print 10,000 sheets without a break in the running. The sheets are mechanically folded, inserted by hand into tho letterpress section and then bound by wire-stitching machines before the edges are guillotined and the paper is ready for circulation. In many respects the Weekly News is unique among tho journals of tho world. In both letterpress and pictures it deals with world events; its special articles and literary contributions are maintained at a standard as high a3 its illustrations; and every mail that leaves New Zealand carries copies iof the with its well-known red cover, to subscribers in tho farthest corners of the globe. It has frequently

been said that the Weekly News is Hie most powerful agent in bringing visitors and trade to New Zealand. The Christmas Annual of the Wkkki.y News occupies a place by itself among New Zealand newspapers and its fame is literally world-wide. The same thoroughness and careful organisation which have built up and maintained the popularity of the Weekly News operate in the compilation of the annual, and every year glowing tributes are paid to the high artistic standard of the coloured illustrations. These represent the high-water mark of the photographer's and process worker's art and the utmost care is taken annually in the selection of subjects lor illustration. The result is that the "Christmas Number of the Auckland Weekly News provides the finest advertisement for the scenic glories of the Dominion. Tlie number of copies sent by New Zealanders to friends living abroad is increasing every year. Special numbers of the Wekkev News are also issued from time to time and invariably meet with widespread popularity. Kvery your the sporting attractions of the Dominion receive special pictorial treatment and illustrations of the famous big-game fishing grounds of the North and the marvellous trout streams and lakes of Taupo and Kotorua have persuaded many overseas anglers into making annual pilgrimages to New Zealand. In its early days the Auckland Weekly News established a close and intimate loucli with its country readers, and has never lost it. Jt was always proud of its nickname, " the back blocks bible." Such was ihe reliance of the settlers on their popular weekly that commercial travellers carrying news of some happening or other would find themselves disbelieved unless mention of the matter could be found in the Weekly. Requests for road or bridge works in the back country were forwarded to the editor in the supreme faith that he would " stir the Government up." The Question ami Answer columns, were a medium ot personal contact with readers and the paper became regarded as an authority on almost every subject under the sun, from the baby's teething troubles to a knotty point in land or drainage law and from the best way to hang a rami gate to highly-technical problems in agricultural or mining science. Neighbours' quarrels impounding or boundary disputes are referred to the Weekly News as a matter of course in the sure faith that it will settle all arguments and it is almost an everyday occurrence to receive a request for arbitration in this respect.

TjVERY year, from all quarters of the globe, hundreds of letters are received by the Auckland Weekly News In praise of the annual Christmas Number. This tribute, received from Omaha, Nebraska, is typical: "1 will highly treasure this copy. It holds a very choice place on oar library table, and all my friends have admired it as much as I have. These pictures are wonderful and my desire to visit New Zealand becomes greater each time I go through the publication."

Taking at random a few of the letters from tlie daily mail, it is found that the paper is asked to advise three households on the make of motor-car suited to requirements, to settle a cribbage dispute, inspect and classify a mineral specimen, say when the rate of exchange is to be altered, advise a farmer in a problem over a mortgage, criticise a literary effort, recommend a radio set, decide a family quarrel and interpret a will. Questions come from overseas for answer in these columns, one even being received from u place oil the Arctic circle. On one occasion a Maori, wildly waving a taiaha, appeared in the office. He had mislaid his interpreter en route, but he knew enough English to ask for the " ekita." After a long impassioned harangue in his own language he proceeded to rub noses. What looked like a declaration of war seemed to be ending in peace and harmony. Then the interpreter appeared and explained that the chief wished the Weekly News to divert the course of the Main Trunk line then building in the King Country. The editor promised to "sack" the Government, presented the chief with a specimen of coral, which was promptly used as an ear ornament, and was invited to come and stay indefinitely in the chief's village. Some time later the editor did visit that village, and though the Main Trunk line stayed where it had been put, he received a royal welcome. Day by day and week by week evidence is afforded of the great and widespread circulation of New Zealand's national journal. From the North Cape to the Bluff readers write as a matter of course, as if the paper were published in their own home district. It is this close and intimate relationship between the paper and its readers that marks it out as the greatest national advertising medium in New Zealand. If the staff could accept a quarter of the invitations that reach them they would be travelling up and down the Dominion the whole year round. There is no country district in either the North or South Island where the familiar red cover is not welcome to man, woman and child, and probably no newspaper in the world has so many individual readers per copy. After the journal has been read from cover to cover by all the members of a household, it is passed on to neighbours or relatives, and then posted to friends overseas. Sometimes th 6 thrifty housewife uses the pink covers to make a pink dye. In hundreds of homes back copies are preserved as carefully as valuable books. In one instance the editor was proudly conducted to an upstairs room where every issue for 30 years back was carefully preserved in 30 neat piles and the settler said that this room was his favourite resort on a wet day when he loved to go back into one pile or another and he always found something of absorbing interest. There is no section of the community that is not catered for in this popular national journal. The agriculturist, pastoralist, orchardist, the miner, bushman, flax-cutter, fisherman, the poultry-keeper, gardener, racing man, motorist, sports enthusiast, the home dressmaker, milliner or housewife, the dog fancier, yachtsman, hunter, holiday-maker or tourist will all find matter of special interest published week by week in the paper that has grown up with the country and has stood by the primary producer always. It has preached a liv jlv faith in New Zealand and New Zealand people and makes the quaint boast that it lias no polities but lias always had a very definite policy for the good of New Zealand as a whole and when Governments have adopted its policy they have enhanced the prosperity of the people.