WILBUR NEWSPRINT SHORTAGE

Wanganui Chronicle, 27 May 1948, Page 6

WILBUR

NEWSPRINT SHORTAGE

ITS ACUTENESS this year

UNFORTUNATE FC*R N.Z. (P.A.) Auckland, May 26. Reference to newsprint supplies, the “lifeblood of the newspaper industry,” was made by the deputy chairman of New Zealand Newspapers Ltd. (Mr. Edward Anderson), in his address at the annual meeting of the company. He remarked that although the war had ended nearly three years ago the newsprint supply situation had not improved, but had grown worse. “Our newspapers, in both Auckland and Christchurch, have had to be reduced in size, and to maintain them even at their present sizes we are obliged to draw substantially on our reserves of newsprint,” he added. He did not complain of this situation, for it arose from the offer made by representatives of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association at Aid for Britain conference in August last, to reduce their combined importations to approximately 17,000 tons for this year in order to save dollars. This offer was made in the hope that it would contribute towards a speedy ending of difficulties abroad, which occasioned the calling of the conference. The difficulties had since become greater and the shortage of dollars had increased. This was especially unfortunate this year, because newspaper concerns were faced with the need for negotiating new contracts with their newsprint suppliers. The price of newsprint was rising, and there existed an apparently in- ' satiable demand for it from the I United States, which also depended mainly on Canadian supplies. The Minister of Finance was faced with J requests for dollar allocations from ' many industries. There were not / enough dollars to satisfy all, but Mr. Anderson expressed the hope that in ] judging the case, of newsprint, whether this year or' in any future year, the Minister would not be under any misapprehension concerning the financial structure of the newspaper indutry in New Zealand.