The new paper shortage, which will reduce the penny daily
Papers sometimes to four pages and sometimes to six, and affect all other publications proportionately, raises a question 50. difficult that it will no doubt be left alone. The general Principle ruling the organisation of life today is that all labour and material not serving an imperative national need should be switched over to some activity definitely furthering the war- effort. Unnecessary foodstuffs are being shut out or cut off, clothing is to be utilitarian rather than luxurious, petrol is drastically rationed. When it comes to periodicals it is obvious from a glance at any Press Directory that there are scores of publications which in the sense of the word generally accepted today serve no useful purpose at all. Obviously the national interest would be advanced by diverting their paper-ration to other publications definitely meeting a public need. It would be hard on the journals thus deprived of their raw materials, but no harder than the fate meted out to wholesalers and retailers of goods decreed to be unnecessary at the present time. But the task of discrimination would be so baffling that no one is likely to undertake it—and I certainly do not suggest that anyone should. There would, moreover, be a temptation to any Minister who did assume such power, and attempt to use it, to take the opportunity to penalise some papers whose general attitude was critical or distasteful to the Government. And though this journal would probably have little to fear on that score it would, I hope, throw all its weight behind any other that might seem to be unjustly victimised. • * * *
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