NEWSPAPER COMPANIES.

Colonist, Volume XVI, Issue 1664, 29 August 1873, Page 3

NEWSPAPER COMPANIES.

To the Editor of the Colonist,

Sib, —I find the following in the New Zealand Herald of a late date:—"There are now in the Colony five newspaper companies, viz., in Auckland the Southern Grow Co., in Nelson the Examiner Co., in Christchurch the Press Co., and in Dunedin the Daily Times and the Guardian Co.'s. It is a question how far the control by these companies of the expression of public opinion is an advantage, It is at least easy to see that it has a tendency to establish more permanently among us that narrow cliqueri which is even now the outse of New Zealand, which makes slaves of our politicians and mere tools of far too many electors. Where a newspaper is in the hands of private proprietors, with whom the commercial success of their publication is the main desideratum, it is bound in order to ensure this, to express opinions and advocate measure) in which some large section of the community feel a sympathy. It is in fact compelled to reflect the real feeling existing amongst a sufficient portion of the public to snpport it. But when a paper is in the hands of a company it does not by any means follow that commercial success is the first thing aimed at. The newspaper is then too often employed foi the purpose, not of enlightening the public, but of forcing upon it the narrow viewß of the proprietary, and of serving their ulterior political designs, by the distortion or suppression of facts, and the skilful use of fiction. Tue monetary loss, being divided amongst a number, is insufficient, but the effect upon the success of their political designs is real and substantial; the former comes theretore to be regarded as a matter of small importance." Owing to " the monetary loss being divided amongst a number," they do in some instances, take work and advertisements at such rates that I know cannot pay wages, much less anything else, but then, there are the calls to be relied on to make up deficiencies. Your fellow printers at a diitanoe, will better understand this when I state that I have been credibly informed that advertisements have been taken at some offices at about twopence per inch each insertion! Fancy these prices in the face of printing paper advanoing in value ; the standard wages, of compositors being £2 10s. per week; and the heavy oost telegraphic news entails on a newspaper. This reck^ss trading will go on, no doubt, so long as shareholders in such concerns are willing to alloy their money to. be made " duoks and drakes of." For my part, I would^rather be a looker-on than a participator in such a losing and costly political game.—Yours, &c,

One who has bbbniit the Trade.