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Typo: A Monthly Newspaper and Literary Review, Volume 5

Our Work

page 118

Our Work.

Labor in vain, or without visible result, is disheartening. On the other hand, there is no gratification like that of seeing definite and beneficial results following one's endeavors. We are glad to say that we have evidence on all sides that our work for the past four-and-a-half years —at times very heavy—has been fruitful for good. Not only has our journal been the means, by the opening it afforded for free discussion, of bringing about a better understanding between employers and employed in the Craft, but among the direct results of its efforts must be reckoned the formation of Master Printers' Associations in the chief centres, and, last of all, just as this issue is in the press, the establishment on a broad basis of the New Zealand Institute of Journalists. The Typographical Association had been in existence some years before Typo appeared; but its effort to establish a trade organ did not succeed. It has, as our readers know, recognized this paper as the organ of the Craft; and the fact that the Master Printers' Association and the Institute of Journalists have done likewise is sufficient testimony to the independence of our journal, and of the estimation in which it is held. Judged merely by the financial standard, the result of our labors is not to be despised. In the labor troubles of last year, it was the Typographical Associations who applied the brake to the downward movement of the Trades Unions, thereby averting disaster such has since befallen Queensland and New South Wales; and the influence of Typo, as the only paper appealing directly to the Craft, was strongly felt. The institution of Master Printers' Associations, by checking suicidal competition, has saved many thousands of pounds to the Craft, turning unprofitable businesses into paying concerns, besides raising the standard of work and increasing the scale of remuneration; and it may reasonably be expected that the newly-formed Institute will do even greater work in harmonising discordant elements, in elevating the general tone of journalism, and in providing the means of exercising, where the interests of the Profession are concerned, a united action which shall be practically irresistible. We have therefore good grounds for regarding with some degree of satisfaction the visible and tangible results of less than five years' work. It will be readily recognized that only an independent journal could have been the means of bringing them about. No mere mouth-piece of any trade-union or kindred institution, no manufacturers' or agents' advertising organ, could have accomplished such results. Nor could any journal confining its attention, as some of our friends would have had us do, to the purely technical or artistic aspects of the business. These we have certainly never overlooked; but we chose to occupy broader and higher ground, and results have justified us in so doing. Having then, as we hold, done our duty to the Craft, we are warranted in asking if the Craft has, in return, done its duty to us. The independence of our journal—its strength in securing its primary object—the advancement of the Art, Craft, and Profession—is its weak point as regards financial recompense. A society organ is subsidized from union funds—we do not wish for any such assistance. A manufacturer's or agent's organ looks for its returns in promoting the sale of a certain class of merchandise; that being its sole object, it can at the most give but casual and incidental attention to the broader concerns of the Craft. From the very outset, our friends have urged us to extend each department of our paper—the technical, the literary, and the colonial press record: the latter being of special value with a view to future years. We have done our best; but with the result that we have had no financial profit. Henceforth we intend to confine our actual outlay upon our journal within the limit of its returns. Our own labor we do not grudge. If our supporters find themselves the losers they have the remedy to a great extent ir own hands—they can exert themselves to extend our subscription-list. Our subscribers consist almost exclusively of working printers. This should not be; master-printers—many of whom are now profiting by our efforts—ought to do their part. Journalists, too, should bear in mind that a pile of exchanges, useful as they are at times, do not help to pay the printer. Advertisers, both colonial and foreign, have been far less liberal than we could reasonably have expected, considering the wide and profitable field in which Typo is the sole representative of the Craft; and it is on subscribers that we have to rely for the support of our enterprise. Our friends should bear this fact in mind.