"Weekly Guardian"

A New Newspaper in Fiji

THE' Weekly Guardian, a new news paper for Fiji, made its appearance in Suva on August 29.

Its first issue is not impressive—prob ably due to the consistent bad luck of the promoters. First, their printing machinery was delayed by strikes and so forth; and then, when they got it as sembled, they discovered a grave error in part of it, which involved further serious delay. Rather than announce a further postponement, they rushed out their first issue under great difficulties, and hoped for the best—not a good thing with any periodical because, in news papers as in anything dependant on pub lic favour, first impressions are often lasting.

The naper discloses a good literary standard and a keen sense of news. But the promoters, in my opinion, make a mistake in allowing their first issue to be too anti-Alport Barker.

There always are a lot of people who are sure they can show an editor how to run his newspaper—l would feel that I am failing if they did not peck fre quently at me—and the editor of the Fiji Times has critics a-plenty. But Mr.

Alport Barker, nonetheless, is a well known and highly respected figure in the public life of Fiji; and his long and honourable record, and proved readiness at all times to give personal service to the Colony, more than balance the weight of any criticism of his newspaper.

However, free competition is the heart and soul of the system of private enter prise, which we all defend; and plenty of competition cannot do much harm to the newspaper industry anywhere We wish the “Weekly Guardian” plenty of readers, some luck, and good fighting weather. —RWR. rae

ideas of the importance of his place in world affairs, wearied the Americans, who have now packed up and gone.

Australia has neither the money nor the Naval personnel to maintain Manus as it would have been maintained under the Americans. While Mr. Riordan is making noises like a Cabinet Minister and “planning” this and that, the jungle will be winning in a comfortable canter.

Australia is now committed to a 40-hours week; the New Guinea bush goes on growing all the time.