PRICE OF NEWSPAPERS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9596, 28 February 1917, Page 6

PRICE OF NEWSPAPERS

INCREASE TO BE MADE IN APRIL.

. In the course of his presidential address at the annual conference of the Newspaper Proprietors' Association, Mr P. Selig said that newspaper owners had grave reason' for concern regarding future paper supplies. Tho first shock of the New Year was the far ure of the initial shipment from Powell river, which was not now expected till March., Contracts made fox ‘917-18 are “freight at buyers’ riskTwelve nionth-j ago ho had referred to the fact that the cost Ot output or newspapers hitod gbiio, up by leaps and bounds. All materials that enter into the production of a newspaper have continued to increase in price. The principal offices have had tb face an increase in price of, news-print paper of nearly 124 per cent, compared with pre-war figures. Metal, ink, and other materials, also wages, 'asst of baffle service and telegrams flad also largely increased. All over the world somewhat similar conditions prevailed, and they must face here, as. elsewhere, the question of raising tho selling price of papers to the public to, in some measure, recoup tliese heavy additional expenses in production. After a Very full discussion by the largest meeting of newspaper proprietors held .in the Dominion for many years, it was unanimously resolved: “That this meeting of members of the Newspaper ,'Proprietors’. .Association of New Zealand is of opinion that in view of the enormous increase in the price of news-printing paper and the increased, cost of material,, and of working expenses in practically all departments of newspaper production, the time hag arrived when an increase in the selling price of New Zeal an newspaper's can no longer he avoided si-ch charge to come into force on Apri 2nd.” ', •