The Te Puke Times

Te Puke Times, Issue II, 23 November 1915, Page 2

The Te Puke Times

A newspaper is generally supposed to be a medium for the dissemination of information to the general public, not merely of items of interest from other parts of the world, but of matters affecting the community and district in which it is published. In small communities, in fact, an effort is generally made by the proprietors of journals to make local news the principal feature of their publications, inasmuch as city newspapers circulating throughout the district provide an extensive range of foreign reading matter. Papers published in centres such as Te Puke, must, however, rely to a certain extent on voluntary information for their news, for.the simple reason that their stafF does not as a rule include a special reporter. Thus it is quite impossible, unless they have the hearty co-operation of secretaries of local bodies and conveners of meetings for them to give the prominence to local happenings that they otherwise would do. To illustrate our meaning, we may point out that during last week no fewer than three meetings were called verbally, but no notification that they were to be held was given to the press. The consequence was that we were not represented at those meetings, and we were unable, therefore, to provide the public with a detailed report of the business transacted. We make no apology for this, for the blame must rest on those who convened the meetings. It would be interesting tn know how they proposed to acquaint local residents with what was done. So far as the Racing Club is concerned we must do the Secretary the justice to say that he provided us with a very comprehensive report. With regard, to the meetings called for the purpose of arranging a Carnival for Friday next, we were unaware, as were many others, that such meetings were even contemplated. Surely, in the interests of the project itself the greatest publicity was desirable, particularly when it was proposed to hold the Carnival at such an early date. Again, on Friday last, the Hon W. D. S. Macdonald visited the town. On making enquiry as to when he would receive deputations, we heard that he was to be entertained at a dinner by the Town Board, when matters alfecting the district would be discussed. As we received no intimation that the presence of a reporter at the function was desired, we refrained from obtruding at what was apparently a small private tea-party. For our information as to what transpired we are indebted to a member of the Board. We do not for one moment accuse those responsible for arranging these meetings of a lack of courtesy, for we believe the omission to notify us was one of pure inadvertence, but we wish to point out that the public is entitled to some consideration, and that in the interest of the object for which meetings are called publicity is not only desirable but essential.