IMAGINATION OF AN AMERICAN JOURNAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18466, 18 May 1928, Page 2

IMAGINATION OF AN AMERICAN JOURNAL.

EDITOR APOLOGISES FOR OBVIOUS FAKE. A story went the rounds of the New Zealand newspapers recently about the imaginative faculty of an' American journalist, who learned that the 1927 Olympia had been held in Christchurch. New Zealand, had reconstructed a detailed story of how the motor show had been held in a church, for lack of better accommodation. The editor of the guilty paper has written to the “Radiator” as follows: In your issue of February, 1928, you publish a leading editorial entitled “A n \ er *can Imagination. An Injustice to New Zealand.” The editorial comments on the unfortunate Item which appeared in “Automotive Industries,” of December 31, 1927, with the heading “New* Zealand Show is Held in Church.” Not only should the item never have been written by the correspondent from whom we received it, but never should it have gotten into print after it was received, since it was almost obviously untrue on its face. Since both of those extremely unfortunate occurrences did take place, however, I am somewhat at a loss to know how we can properly make amends. Be assured that the item was pripted in error and not in jest; we may be guilty of negligence but not of bad taste. At least I can offer to all New Zealanders in general and to the New Zealand motor trade in particular our most sincere apologies and regrets for this almost inexcusable mistake. And in doing so, I cannot refrain from expressing the admiration which we, in this country, have felt and do feel for the remarkable and constructive progress which has been made by the motor trade in your country and our sincere desire to co-operate in furthering that progress in every way that we can. *