Misidentifying New Information

Martin (1992: 454-5): 

The next paragraph is not pulled together in this way; instead, [6:23r] functions as a macro-New, summarising the text as a whole. … macro-New [is …] underlined in the following representation of [6:23]; the minimal News of remaining clauses appear in bold-face.

[6:23]	(illustrating New … and macro-New)
	m	The war had also revealed inadequacies in Australia’s scientific and research capabilities.
	n	After the war strenuous efforts were made to improve these.
	o	The Australian National University was established with an emphasis on research.
	p	The government gave its support to the advancement of science in many areas, including agricultural production.
	q	Though it is difficult to disentangle the effects of war from other influences,
	r	it is clear that future generations not only enjoyed the security and peace won by their forefathers but also the benefits of war-time economic expansion.

Blogger Comments:

[1] This is the first mention of the security and peace won by their forefathers in the text, and so it does not satisfy Martin's definition of macro-New as 'summarising the text as a whole'.

[2] This does not satisfy Martin's definition of minimal New — the "highest ranking" clause constituent (p451) — because [6:23p] is a clause complex, rather than a single clause, with including agricultural production as a possessive attributive clause hypotactically elaborating the clause that precedes it.  Based on a spoken reading, there are likely to be information foci on many and agricultural.