NEWS FOR THE PEOPLE

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 42, 19 February 1931, Page 12

NEWS FOR THE PEOPLE

PRESS ASSOCIATION

A BUSY YEAR

(By Telegraph— frees Association.) BOTOBUA, This Day. Prior to the commencement of the business at the annual general meeting of the United Press Association of New Zealand, Ltd.} held this morning, the chairman (Mr. E. Abbey Jones) asked infeinbers to acquiesce in the following resolution, which was carried in silence, all members standing:— "That members of the United Press Association gathered at the annual general meeting record their profound sorrow at the great calamity that has fallen upon the Dominion consequent on the Hawkes Bay earthquake, and rise as a mark of respect to the dead, condolence with, the relatives of the deceased, and also to express their sympathy to those who have suffered personal injury and financial loss." In moving the adoption of tho annual report and statement of accounts, the chairman remarked that during the fifty-one years' the organisation had been in existence no greater disaster had happened' to any of its members comparable to the loss suffered by the "Hawkes Bay Herald," the "Hawkes Bay Tribune," and the "Napior Daily Telegraph" companies through the earthquake on 3rd February. All shareholders would, he felt sure, join in extending congratulations to Sir Cecil Leys, who had been honoured by His Majesty the King with a knighthood. Sir Cecil was a member of the board of the association, and had twice been chairman. The cable figures for the year showed that the number of words distributed to morning newspapers was 482,153, and to evening papers 477,537. The international figures were 343,376 and 396,110 respectively, and the Australian 138,777 and 81,427. The thanks of the association were due to the Secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department, Mr. G. M'Namara, for > the able manner in which his Department had coped with the excessive strain of the recent disaster, running a continuous twenty-four houf service and handling the greatest number of words in the history of the Department. INTERNATIONAL SERVICE. After referring to the most notable events of the year, the chairman said it could be stated with confidence that the international service had kept Now Zealand well informed of world events. Special efforts had been made to cope with the recent disaster in Hawkes Bay,and despite all obstacles a splendid- service had resulted, the agents' reports being free from any exaggeration or luridness in description and generally in keeping with the highest standard of excellence in New Zealand journalism. In referring to the outstanding events of tho year in the Dominion, the chairman mentioned the retirement and subsequent death of Sir Joseph Ward, the accession of tho Forbes Government, the visit of the British Rugby team, the alpine disaster at Mount Cook, and the visit of Sir Otto Niemeyer. The change in management consequent upon the retirement on superannuation of Mr. Atack after fortyfive years' service, and the appointment of Mr. A. B. Lane, were referred to by the chairman. Opportunity would be taken during the conference to make suitable recognition of Mr. Ataek's lifetime of service to the association.