JOURNALIST'S DEATH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 29, 4 February 1937, Page 5

JOURNALIST'S DEATH.

MR. ALEXANDER BURNS. LONG NEWSPAPER CAREER. v (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) CHRISTCHURCH, tliie day. The death occurred in Wellington yesterday afternoon, after a sudden illness, of Mr. Alexander Mclvin Burns, general manager of the Chrietchurch "Press" Company. Limited, and a member of the board of the United Press Association of New Zealand. Mr. Burns, who was in his sixty-fourth year, had just returned to New Zealand after a

holiday in Australia. The last thirty I years of a long association with news-! paper work were spent in literary and administrative work with the "Prens." Born at Lawrence, the son of Mr. Andrew Burns, who was a journalist in Otago and Southland, Mr. Burns joined j the staff of the New Zealand Press Association at Wellington in 1890, and remained in the association's service for 17 years. He was chairman of the Parliamentary Press Gallery for a period. In 1900 he came to Clirfctchiirch to take up the position of chief sub-editor of the "Press. -, He became assistant editor in 1924 and in the following year he was appointed general manager and secretary of the company. At one time Mr. Burns was chairman of directors of the United Press Association of Xew Zealand, and at the time of his death was a member of the board of directors of the association. For many years he was associated with committees of the New Zealand Newspaper Proprietors' Association, and wae a member of its executive. He wae also a member of the Empire Press Union and for more than 30 years was New Zealand correspondent of the London "DaUy Mail." He was a director of the New Zealand "Referee" Newspapers Services, Limited. During his residence in Christclwrch he held office in a number of leading business men's organisa- ! tions.

Mr. Burns married in 1599 Miss Mary Elizabeth Brown, who died in 1927. He leaves two sons. Mr. Melvin J. Burns and Mr. Graeme C. Burnt;.