Value of the Technical and Trade Press
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GREAT interest attaches to a booklet entitled " The Technical and Trade Press of Great Britain " issued recently by the Council of the Trade and Technical Press,, Imperial House, Kingsway, London, W.C.2, which represents over 200 trade and technical journals covering every branch of industry in Great Britain.
In a foreword, the chairman of the Council,. Mr. Roland E. Dangerfield, points out that the memorandum sets out the function of technical and trade journals in relation to industry at home and abroad, the 'difficulties with which the publishers are contending, the urgent need for their immediate removal, and the manner in which this can be achieved.
He adds that two things are needed if British industry is to hold its own— maximum efficiency and world-wide recognition of this. The technical and trade Press is indispensable to the achievement of both these objectives, and unless steps be taken at once this great force for industrial revival will remain. partially • immobilized.
The technical Press and the ttade Press are alike in that both are essen tial to industry. They differ in the stages of industry to which they are related, the technical Press dealing with. production and the trade Press with the later problems of distribution.
Such journals are bought by their readers in the course of and for the purposes of their profession, trade or business, and as indispensable factors in its successful conduct. Collectively, they represent a great force in industrial life. If their function be not properly evaluated and steps not taken to remove existing handicaps, then the restoration of peace-time production and distribution must suffer.
A Vital Business Asset
To the manufacturer the established technical journal is at least as important in the conduct of his busi ness as are his machine tools. • All technical journals of standing are carefully scrutinized abroad as well as at home, and the potential buyer is able' to judge whether Great Britain is the hest market to satisfy his requirements.
During the war, in addition to its normalfunction, the trade Press has rendered indispensable service by acting as interpreter and intermediary between the Government and individual distributors, Without its assistance, rationing, price regulation, zoning, etc., could
not have operated without risk of serious breakdown.
Trade journals will play a vital part in the re-establishment of retail outlets closed for the war.
Propaganda for our export trade -can best be carried out by a-technical and trade Press enjoying the full confidence of the Government and the lively support of selected diplomats and consular representatives abroad. At present this Press is debarred from producing journals of the quality and quantity required for this purpose.
Those conducting such journals are alive to their responsibilities. They are determined to make the British technical and trade Press the best in the world. Theyare confident that this can be achieved, given freedom from existing handicaps and a proper appreciation by the Government of the immense influence wielded by their publications. In return, they can make a great contribution towards re-establishing the pre-eminence of Great Britain's position in the economic structure of a world at peace, We have enforcedly made a very cursory survey of the contents, and would advise those who are particularly inter
ested to obtain the brochure.