A GREAT NEWSPAPER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22000, 5 January 1935, Page 13

A GREAT NEWSPAPER

FAMOUS LEADER OF PRESS

mtlestone for the times

RECORD OF 150 YEARS

Started in London by John Walter ton January 1. 178-5, under the name of the Daily Universal Register, the Times has now passed its 150 th anniversary. It has marked the occasion by the" publication of an historical supplement reviewing its activities from their commencement, and the King, in a special message of' congratulation, has put "distinction and integrity" in the forefront as characteristic marks of the famous journal. Though it is not the oldest of London daily newspapers—that distinction belongs to the Morning Post, established in 1772 —the Times has for over a century been the acknowledged leader of the press. No other journal has enjoyed such world-wide confidence alike as the national record and as an organ of Imperial and international progress. In principles it remains national and independent. It is famous for the originality, completeness and trustworthiness of its news service, and it relies, to a greater extent than any other journal, on its own correspondents, who are men of the highest standing at home and abroad. To write for the Times has long been a distinction and a privilege; and for the ventilation of any grievance-'or for the eliciting of public opinion a letter to the Times is the historic British mode of action. The First John Walter

The Tunes publishes as regular annual numbers reviews of the year on trade, finance and other matters, and from time to time it also publishes special numbers devoted to exhaustive accounts of particular countries, industries or events, all works of permanent value, authoritative and up-to-date. When it was first issued in 1785 the Daily Universal Register was printed in Printing House Square, Blackfriars, as the Times still is. Its founder, the first John. Walter, had been a prosperous coal merchant. In 1754 he acquired an old printing office in Blackfriars, where at first he only undertook the printing of bcoks. When he first issued his newspaper he promised his readers that it would contain nothing to wound anyone'* delicacy or corrupt the mind, that it would abstain from unfair partisanship or scandalous scurrility, and that it would be a faithful recorder of legitimate intelligence. On January I, 17S8, its title was changed to the Times and this great newspaper has eyer since been the preeminent national journal and daily historic record. It came into existence when a new wave of democratic thought was spreading over Europe and the French Revolution was already brewing. Free expression of opinion in the press was still a thing of the future and ■within a few vears of the establishment

of his paper W'alter had several sojourns in Newgate and had to pay several fines for criticisms of the authorities. One of his offences was the statement that the then Prince of Wales and other Royal Princes had by their misconduct incurred the just disapprobation, of George 111. Rapid Development

John Walter second practically took over the reins in 1803, and he also had to-encounter the active opposition of Governments whom he had occasion to criticise. He. introduced a better system of news transmission and steam printing in 1814, with the result that he was able to make the proud announcement that.,lloo sheets had been-impressed in one hour. In 1835 the daily circulation was 10,000, in 1851 it had reached 40,000 and three years later it was over 50,000 at a time when its most circulated rival had a sale of

less than 8000. During the control of

the second John Walter, which continued until 1847, the Times increased in size from four small pages to 12 large ones.

The third John Walter continued in command until his death in 1894, when he was succeeded by Arthur Walter. About the beginning of the present century the Times, began to feel the influence of the more go-ahead methods of the .popular press, and there was a loss of circulation and revenue which became a grave source of anxiety td its owners. In 1908 Lord Northcliffe realised his ambition of long years and acquired the chief'control of the Times, with A. Walter as chairman of the company which was created to carry it on. and Moberlv 801 l as managing director. Lord Northclifle's Administration

it cannot be said that Lord Northcliffe's administration was consistentlv successful, but he thoroughly remodelled the organisation and increased its efficiency in all departments. There is no doubt that by the introduction of sound business methods he laid a solid foundation upon which the present remarkable prosperity of the paper is largely based. After the war and the death of Lord Northcliffe Major J. J. Astor, M.P., became chairman and chief proprietor, and he secured the future independence of the paper by a deed establishing a body of trustees consisting of holders of various public offices whose consent would be required to .validate any future change of ownership. The Times excels in every department, mainly by employing experts in particular subjects. It is the only newspaper whose law reports are recognised by the Courts as authentic, these reports being done day by day by skilled barrister reporters. Similarly the Times specialises in its presentation of foreign aifairs, and has maintained for nearlv a century in the chief capitals of the World an able staff of foreign correspondents. The principal adjuncts to the Times are the literary supplement, the weekly edition, the Times Law Reports, the educational supplement and the trade and engineering supplement. Publishing Enterprise

The publishing department of the Times has invaded several new fields °f enterprise. The Times Atlas was first published in 189C>. and three vears later it undertook the reprint of the ninth edition pf the Encyclopaedia Britanniea on a new system of terms.

This was followed, by a similar sale of the Century Dictionary, and of a reprint of the first 50 vears of Punch.

A unique honour was paid the Times Publishing Company. Limited, five years ago, when the College of Arms granted it armorial bearings. This was the first occasion upon which the richt to - bear arms had been conferred upon a newspaper company. The Patent of Arms recalls that under the articles of association of the Times Holding Company. Limited, no ordinarv share may bey transferred to anv person other than the present chief Proprietors, unless such person shall have been approved as a proper person to hold ordinarv shares in the com nan v by a resolution of the committee of trustees specially created for that purpose.