JK Baxter's conception, and other stories from the launch of 'Truth'

from Booksellers NZ
19 Nov 2010

Literary icon JK Baxter was born because his father was tortured as a conscientious objector in the First World War – it’s True because the story was printed the Truth newspaper.
Now it has come to light again in a new history, Truth – the Rise and Fall of the People’s Paper, by Redmer Yska, published by Craig Potton Publishing and launched at Unity Books, in Wellington last night.

The Willis Street function saw many retired and still working journalists who had practiced their craft on Truth. Former editor Bob Edlin recounted tales of many characters who had worked on the paper including former prime ministers Sir Robert Muldoon (columnist) and Sir Geoffrey Palmer (legal adviser, who turned up the party last night).

Pictured: Author Redmer Yska, former Truth legal adviser Sir Geoffrey Palmer and former Chief Sub-editor, John Bell Thompson at the launch of Truth The Rise and Fall of the People’s Paper at Unity Books in Wellington.

Picture courtesy of Peter Bush (who also worked for Truth for more than 20 years).

National Librarian Penny Carnaby praised the book as an important record of a newspaper that led the way in many aspects of the country’s social discourse, including freedom of speech. She also saw it as a good example of the use of the archives of the Alexander Turnball Library, which author Redmer Yska had spent a year working through as a National Library Fellow.

It was Yska’s research that finally unearthed the famous Baxter letter that had often been discussed by those in the know, but was buried in the archives at the Library.
Yska writes that Alexander Baxter “repeatedly refused to submit to military discipline. Baxter was one of two men then subjected to repeated sentences of ‘crucifixion and beatings”, known as Field Punishment Number 1.
He wrote about this in a letter to his parents, a friend re-typed the letter and sent it to Truth who took the risk of the anger of the Government censor, and published it, reading in part:
“I have suffered to the limits of my endurance, and I will never in my sane sense surrender to the evil power that has fixed its roots like a cancer on the world.”

The letter inspired Millicent Brown, daughter of a Canterbury professor, who clipped it out put in her purse and sought out Baxter whom she married in 1921.

Full launch report here.

Footnote:
My father was a great reader of Truth but we kids were forbidden to read it so whenever we found ourselves home alone (very rarely) we immeditaely raced into our parent's bedroom knowing that the latest copy of Truth would be hiddden under dad's side of the bed. We would quickly read it looking for phrases like "unlawful carnal knowledge" and "the co-respondent was named as...." not really knowing what it was all about but that it was naughty in some way.
So it was with great interest that I approached this new publication. I agree with Penny Carnaby in her comments and I must say that Redmer Yska has done a great job in pulling together the history of this departed newspaper.  I was totally fascinated by the cartoons and photographs and headlines that are liberally scattered through the book.
An interesting read, an important record of a slice of our social history, and put together in a handsome book printed on an appealing creamy paper stock.
I enjoyed it.
Further footnote:
Here is how one staffer at Unti Books summarised the night:

Last night's launch of Truth: The Rise and Fall of the People's Paper by Redmer Yska had a great turn out of ex-Truth staffers, journo's, readers, fans and friends. The event was opened by local music journalist Kiran Dass and Robbie Burton from Craig Potton was on hand to talk about the books inception. Penny Carnaby from the National Library gave some context to Truth's colourful contribution to NZ's traditions of public discourse and former Truth Editor Bob Edlin shared some excellent behind-the-scenes goss. After opening with a well-chosen Baxter poem, Redmer Yska went on to mention some of his favourite worst headlines and the addictive qualities of punning.  A great night had by all.