New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-29
Argument of Manufacturers


posed increase in price the manufac-
turers point out that everything that
goes into the production Of newsprint
has advanced in cost from % to 4OO
per cent. By reason of the enlistment
in overseas forces Of experienced men,
the available labor is from 20 to 20
per cent less efficient than formerly.
1t is not claimed that the increased
cost Of production TO date is sufficient
to account for an advance of 60 per
cent in price, but the manufacturers
are holding out for the Scent minimum
rate on the ground of the uncertainty
as to possible additional increases in
their costs and frank admission Of
their desire TO take advantage of the
presen: strength of the paper market
of the world The Canadian mills have
increased their output by only per
cent since the outbreak of the war, and
the present demand abroad, especially
in the United States, offers generous
profits which they would like TO extend,
and claim the right to extend, to their
entire output. One paper mill, how
ever on the Pacific Coast has recently
renewed contracts with British Column
bia newspapers for a period of five
years at the old price.
4 The newspapers have a strong case
for protection. They concede that some
advance in price may be necessary on
account of higher cost of production,
but contend that the proposed minimum
price of three cents a pound is TAB
solutely prohibitive." Some increases
in advertising and subscription rates
can be made, and indeed certain Cana
i dian newspapers have already an
nounced such increases, but it is i'm
possible in this way TO meet an ad-
vance of 80 per cent, not even with the
most careful elimination of paper waste
and reductions in consumption. News
papers are not in position to offset
an increase in the cost of news print
by raising the selling price of their
finished product, as is the case with
some manufacturers.
It is pointed out-and the paper
manufacturers admit the contention
that the three-cent f. o. b. mill price
includes a large proportion of "load-
ing" as insurance" against future in
creases in cost of production, as well
as providing for every advance IN cost
of production since the war began. The
publishers claim, moreover, that spe-
cial consideration should be given 70
| Canadian newspapers instead of the
/ latter being charged the same price as
newspapers in the United States are
charged. The welfare of the news
papers is generally recognized to be a
matter of national concern, and espe-
cially during the war period they have
a public duty and perform a most i'm
portant function. Their quasi-public
character has been indicated in connec-
ton with recruiting, fotation of the
domestic war loans, etc.
Canadian newspapers suffered Sc
verely by the business depression at
the outbreak Of the war, while their
costs of production. aside from the
price of white paper, have been con-
] siderably advanced. The publishers
point to the action of the Norwegian
government in protecting the news
papers of that country. In order to
avoid prohibition Of expectation, which
otherwise would have been put in force,
the Norwegian mills making news print
have agreed to furnish the newspapers
of Norway with what they need of
such paper at a price of 1-3 cents per
two and one-ffth pounds If the situa-
ton in a neutral nation warrants the
government of that nation interesting
itself in the supply and price Of news
print it is contended that there is the
more reason that the government of a
country at war should take similar ac-
ton.
Sir Thomas Whites Attitude