30 MARCH 1951, Page 4

I sec that the Glasgow Herald and the Scotsman have

both found it necessary to advance their price from 2d. to 3d.—a grim portent of what is likely to happen increasingly in different quarters. The cost of paper has risen, and is still rising, fantastically, the cost of printing is rising as wages are increased, the cost of transport is rising—yet the last thing any paper is willing to do is to increase its own price. All the burdens must be borne without any recompense. The two Scottish papers very wisely agreed to make the change simultaneously, for in spite of the appeal of each of them to local loyalties and their strength in local news, they cover sufficiently the same ground to make it impossible for one of them alone to raise its price without losing heavily in circulation to the other. As it is, both will no doubt lose a little, but gain financially on balance.

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