THE 'EXPRESS' EARLIER DAYS RECALLED. 1933.

Molong Express and Western District Advertiser NSW.

22 NOV 1933

THE 'EXPRESS'

EARLIER DAYS RECALLED.

In a recent issue of the Wingham 'Chronicle' (conducted by Mr. Fred. Fitzpatrick) the following article appeared:

Mr. W. P. Stanger is the new proprietor of 'The Molong Express.' The Leathem family conducted 'The Express' for many years, and Old Man Leathem was one of the pioneers of the Molong District. 

He did much towards developing the public thought of the district, and assisted materially to develop its fine resources.

His widow ran the paper for years after his death, and the sons since; — up to the disposal of it just recently to Mr. Stanger. 'The Express' was always a great battler for Molong and district, and as a fighter at election time stood out on its own.

The late J. C. L. Fitzpatrick had a 'champion of champions' in 'The Express.' Ftz had owned and conducted the opposition paper — 'The Molong Argus'— but that fact not- 'withstanding.

'The Express' worked hammer and tongs for him when he stood against Tom Brown for Calare, and ran him within an inch of his political life. Then when Fitzpatrick came again, a few months later against Mr. Albert Gardiner (then the sitting member for Orange) 'The Express' was with him from the first round to -the last.

Fitz accounted for Jupp Gardiner's political scalp, and none of the would-be politicians who bobbed up serenly at every election could afterwards get within political coo-ee of Fitz.

Jack Fitzpatrick always had a kind word for the Leathem boys, and for their good old mother who had seen so many changes in the West of New South Wales, and who saw many a good Molong citizen gathered to the folds of his fathers before she was laid to rest in the General Cemetery on the outskirts of the old town herself.

The “Molong Express,' under the control of the Leathem’s, was always straight, honest, and clean. It had a political policy, and was never afraid to expound it and stand up for it.

There was no rail sitting'-about 'The Express' in those days. It stood for the man and the party in which it believed, and cared not -a two-penny dump- who it pleased or offended.

Writer knows all about it, for he was on the staff of its contemporary, 'The Molong Argus,' at the time