EMPIRE PRESS UNION.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20523, 16 April 1932, Page 6

EMPIRE PRESS UNION.

ANNUAL MEETING. TRIBUTE TO OVERSEA SECTIONS. (ntOAI (JUR OWN COKKESPOKDENT.) LONDON, March 9. Presiding at the 2S}nd annual general meeting of tho Empire Press Union, 011 j March Ist, Major the Hon. J, J. Astor referred to the inauguration of the new Empire Broadcast as a matter of real importance to tho Empire. None of tho members of tho Union, he imagined, would quarrel with tho object of tho 8.8.C. to bring not only entertainment but current news and views within the reach of isolated British peoples day by day. What would be tho effect, 'f any, upon newspapers of this broadcast of news they did not yet know, and it was for their overseas friends to make known any difficulties that might arise. He knew that Sir John lieitli would lend a sympathetic ear and join in' devising means of surmounting any such ■ difficulties. Major Astor remarked that the over- • seas sections of the Empire Press Union, ' with their own elected chairmen and executives, continued to provide a model of Empire organisation; they ; managed their own affairs in their own ' way, and wore always ready to co-oper-l ate when co-operation was necessary. , That there had been 110 further reduction of telegraphic rates between Britain and the Dominions was hardly surprising in view of the economic diffi--1 culties which the operating companies had had to face. Numerous reductions, however, had been made elsewhere within the Empire, beneficial especially to Canada. 1 A letter from the Information Section > of the League of Nations, Major Astor ' said, had been received inviting the j Unions co-operation in devising snfe--3 guards against publication of what had • become known as "tendentious" news j —news, which by its inaccuracy or " biased presentation might be calcu- » lated to create bad feeling between 1 nations. He knew they would agree with him that an invitation such as that j deserved serious thought, and called for any helpful suggestions that jould be t made. Sir Gilbert Parker moved and Mr j N. K. Kerney, (South Africa) seconded > the re-election of Major Astor as president, and this was carried unanimously, I Mr Cecil Harmsworth .was re-elected ■ honorary treasurer, and the council was } re-appointed.