In the early days of war there were fears that a newsprint famine, and a large, increase in the price of the commodity on which all newspapers depend, would drive many of the weaker papers out of existence. The outlook became worse in 1940, and the situation assumed a critical aspect. Trouble was averted by the formation of the “Newsprint Supply Co., Ltd.” The origin of the company came from a conversation between Lord Kemsley and Lord Beaverbrook in which the former made, the suggestion that the London newspaper proprietors should join-together in a common, effort to control future supplies. At a further interview, in which I joined, the idea was put in motion. Other proprietors were consulted and finally a meeting of all the London owners, was held. The decision was then made to form a co-operative company, on a non-profit making basis, and to invite the principal newspapers outside London to participate. It was at once realised that the raw materials, which go to make newsprint, would be in short supply, as the Scandinavian countries, which had previously furnished the English paper-making mills with a large, proportion of these materials, were entirely cut off. Both raw materials and newsprint itself would have to be sought in Canada. A number, of London and provincial papers had contracts running with Canadian mills and they agreed to suspend these in favour of a common pool. English paper-making mills had long-term contracts with Canada for the supply of pulp. The official ‘Paper Control’ was approached, and it was arranged that all newsprint made in this country, or imported, should be rationed to the newspapers by the Newsprint Supply Co. acting under official orders issued by the ‘Paper Control.’ At the outset came the question of finance. The company would have to make itself liable for very large sums of money and would have to disburse this money in advance of payment by the newspapers individually. It was decided to create a guarantee fund of one million pounds. Each of the following made themselves liable for 100,000 Daily Express, Daily Herald, Kemsley Newspapers, Daily Mirror, Daily Mail, News Chronicle, News of the World, Daily Telegraph, Times and Glasgow Herald. A further sum of 200,000 was guaranteed by the Liverpool Post and Manchester Guardian jointly. The first Directors were Lord Beaverbrook (Chairman), Lord Rothermere then the Hon. Esmond Harmsworth (Deputy Chairman), Col. the Hon. J. J. Astor, Lord Camrose, John Cowley, Major Percy Davies, Lord Kemsley, Lord Layton (then Sir Walter Layton) and Lord Southwood for the London papers, and William (now Sir William) Bailey, A. McL. Ewing, and E. Osborn for the provincial papers. Certain of the London proprietors were, of course, also representative of a number, of provincial papers. Lord Beaverbrook joined the Government shortly after the Company's formation and for the major, part of the war his place was taken by E. J. Robertson, general manager of the Daily Express. The Directors dealt with matters of policy and set up a “Rationing Committee” to do the work of allotting individual rations to the papers. Stanley Bell, then general manager of the Daily Mail, was the first Chairman. On his resignation Lord Layton took over and occupied the post until June, 1947, when he was succeeded, by Sir William Bailey. At the request of the Board, Robert Doane, head of the International Paper Co. of Canada, agreed to lend the services of his London representative "for the duration" and George Goyder acted, as manager of the company until July of this year. That post is now filled, by F. P. Bishop. All through the war, and since, the Canadian mills have done their utmost for the newspapers in this country. We have reason to be very grateful to them. Mr. Doane has been their principal representative, and nothing could have been fairer, or more helpful, than the attitude which he has assumed right from the day the Newsprint Supply Co. was started in 1940. The objects of the Newsprint Co. were clearly defined from the beginning. They were two in number: 1. To secure as large a supply of newsprint as war conditions permitted. 2. To distribute that supply on a fair and papers I have previously named, and the basis of the distribution was that every newspaper in the country, from the smallest local weekly to the largest London consumers, should have the same proportionate ration of newsprint. The Board decided the method and its Rationing Committee worked out the details. In the working out of the complicated details of such a scheme there have inevitably been differences of opinion, but it cannot be denied that the Newsprint Company has been of inestimable value to the newspapers of the country. The future of newsprint would seem to be attended by almost as many difficulties as it was in wartime. It is likely to be a long time before this precious newspaper commodity will be freely available, at any rate in this country. Canada, which is far, and away the largest source of supply, is doing her best to help us, but the demand from the United States and the dearth of dollars on our side make the future difficult to see. The end of the Newsprint Supply Co. is, therefore, not yet. On the other hand, it is not too impossible to imagine that the mal-distribution of the basic material for a free Press will eventually become a matter for the United Nations. While some countries continue to be almost starved ofnewsprint, others, and of course most notably the United States, are making use of it on a full pre-war basis and sometimes even more than that. If we are to have an educated and informed Democracy we cannot do without an efficient Press. The newspapers published in Europe today are hardly large enough to merit the name, and even in this country are so attenuated in size that it is quite impossible for them to keep their readers fully apprised of the rapid march of great, events.

[Image: New York, New York. Pressroom of the New York Times newspaper; 1942 Sept; Collins, Marjory, 1912-1985, photographer; Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA; https://www.loc.gov/resource/fsa.8d22696/
Credit: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, FSA/OWI Collection, [reproduction number, e.g., LC-USF34-9058-C]]