PRESS CONGRESS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 8216, 13 August 1915, Page 2

PRESS CONGRESS.

:THE SAN FRANCISCO GATHERING 1 NEW ZEALAND DELEGATE'S IM- | PItESSIONS. (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, August 12. Mr William McCullough, proprietor of the Thames "Star," was was a New Zealand delegate to the World's Press Congress at San Francisco, returned to Wellington to-day. All countries were represented at the • congress except Germany, he states. Journalists and newspaper proprietors from 26 countries were there. Mr Adam Watson, of "The Times," represented England. The speeches given and papers read were of a, very high order. .One or the most brilliant, in Mr McCullough's estimation, was that on the United States law of, libel by a newspaper representative who .was also a solicitor. In the discussion, both Mr Mark Cohen (Dunedin) and Mr McCullough took.a leadSin"- part. "Mr Cohen is an authority on°this subject," said Mr McCullough, "and both he and I have devoted .years of study to it." :,. ' The most prominent feature ol the congress, to Mr McCullough's mind, was the speech of Mr William Jennings Bryan on the relations-of the news-. /papeVs of the. world to the State. "Mr I Bryan," he said, "is certainly a most brilliant orator.7 He-possesses a, charm peculiarly his own, and one could listen to him spellbound for hours without J noticing the passing of time. I imagine (he was referring in the main to the I papers of his own land when he pointed out in most vivid language the faults of the Press of to-day. He drew some delightful pictures in words of what the Press might- be and ought to bo and what he believed it would be in time ■to come. , There is an ideality about everything Mr Bryan says when he speaks, in public which makes him a most fascinating man on the platform. He had a magnificent welcome from over 2000 people, including the Press delegates, when he made his appearance at the inaugural session. I have j t never heard such spirited applause nor any so prolonged." 11 "The congress itself was a great success, so much so in fact that it was resolved to make it a permanent institution, anrd that the next meeting (should-be held two years hence at Sydney, New South Wales. Mr Mark Cohen and Mr Robert Bell were elected vice-presidents to represent the Dominion of New Zealand. The proceedings of congress will bo published in book form." ' , ■ Of the hospitality to the visitors afforded'by the peonle of San Francisco Mr McCullough could not speak too highly, and he particularly mentioned the roynl time provided them by the San " Francisco Press Club, which gave a swr-'l Saturday night, restoring the "'49 " noriod and all its diversions. Those taking part in the show" wore clotfhes'out according.to the time of the first Californian gold "dig-" gings.