Years Old

PIM Is Now 21 Years Old World-wide Distribution

THIS issue of the Pacific Islands Monthly completes the 21st Volume.

The journal was founded in August, 1930, and has been continuously published ever since.

In a special article on pao-e 107 the founder and editor of the FIM recalls some of the storms and vicissitudes of this interesting period; and thanks sub scribers and advertisers for their kindness and co-operation during two decades.

When the PIM first was published, in August. 1930, and in the middle of the Depression, it was merely an idea in the mind of a newsoaner-man who had travelled extensively in the Islands. To day, the PTM. and its associated nublica tion, the Pacific Islands Year Book, are soundly established in public favour.

Most of the PlM’s subscribers are in the Pacific Islands, of course; but it has readers in many countries, and notablv in Australia. New Zealand and the United States. The Year Book goes to practically every country—manv to institutions be hind the Iron Curtain.

The PIM originally was nubb'shed as a “broadsheet,” which was sold for 6/- ner annum. It was changed to its present ('maeazine) form in 1932. but it retained its subscrintion rate (fid per cony) for manv years, until constantlv rising costs forced it, step by step, up to the present price.

The now extraordinary nrice of paner has become the maior problem of pub lishers everywhere. In our case, the mner which cost us less than 3d ner pound in 1939. is now more than 1/fi per pound, and still rising. In addition, everv other item of cost —especially labour —has increased substantially, and is going higher.

New Form For Pim

ALL producers are raising their charges.

The publishers of this journal, help less as they are in this vicious spiral of inflation, must do the same. However, we can postpone an increase in sub scription and advertising rates, for the present, by taking other steps.

Commencing with the August issne of the PIM, the pages of the journal will be reduced in size, from Demv quarto to Crown quarto. This alteration will not make much difference in the appearance of the periodical Crown quarto is a common size for popular magazines—but it will allow us to effect certain economies in paper consumption and factory opera tion which will nartlv offset the increas ing costs of production.

Wider Delivery By Air

AT present, the charge for the FIM is based on an annual subscription, for countries within the British postal system, of 18/-, delivery by surface mail.

New postal charges have just been indicated which will bring the postage on the PIM to not less than 2d per single copy, within Western Pacific territories, with a considerable addition for places further afield. This will compel us, sooner or later, to raise the annual rate.

Meanwhile, a steadily increasing pro portion of our subscribers are paying, in addition to the annual rate, a super charge of as much, or more, to provide for delivery by air. As the Pacific Islands air services grow, their operators are making it easier for publishers to give Islands residents an amenitv which all Islanders appreciate namely, quick delivery of newspapers and magazines. Before the

war, shipping services were quick and frequent: but post-war conditions have created new handicaps for shipowners, and surface mail deliveries have suffered accordingly.

We hope to offer delivery by air (that is, delivery within a few days of publi cation) to readers in the Fiji-Samoa- Tonga-Cook Islands area very soon after the PIM appears in its new form, in August.