PRESS INTERESTS

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 45, 22 February 1923, Page 4

PRESS INTERESTS

NEWSPAPER PROPRIETORS

REPRESENTATIVE GATHERING,

The annual meeting of the Newspaper Proprietors' Association of New Zealand was held last night. Mr. C. \V. Earle (president) was in the chair, and the following were also present:— Sir George Fenwick and Mr. W.Easton ("Otago Daily Times"), Messrs. H. Horton and G. C. Codlin ("N.Z. Herald"), W. Cecil Leys, N. Brett, and A. D. Seabrook ("Auckland Star"), Robert Bell ("Lyttelton Times" and "Ashburton Guardian"), A. G. Henderson ("Lyttelton Times"), J. ontgomery, P. Solig, and A. M. Hester (Christchurch "Press"). L. Blundell, W. J. Blundell, and E. Blundell (Wellington "Post"), E. C. Huie (Christchurch "Sun"), C. Stanley Smith ("Dunedin Star"), George Dixon ("N.Z. Times"), J. Coombe ("Manawatu Standard"), W. C. Weston ("Taranaki Herald"), A. L. Hair ("Gisborne Herald"), A. A. Lucas ("Nelson Mail"), W. C. Wbitlock ("Hastings Tribune"), W. Dinwiddie ("Hawkes Bay Herald"), A. C. Geddis ("Free Lance"), Hon. W. J. Geddis ("Napier Telegraph"), W. Atkin ("Westport News"), James O'Brien, M.P. ("Grey River Argus"), F. H. Kilgour ("Greymouth Star"), A. E. Copping ("Stratford Post"), E. B. Be'A ("Timaru Post"), A. B. Clark ("Kaikcmra Star"), W. D. Nicholas ("Paeroa Gazette"), T. E. M'Millan ("EUeamere Guardian"), A. C. Cleave ("Sporting and Dramatic Review"), Noel Grant ("Woodville Examiner"), W. 0. Cargill ("Morrinsvillo Post"), R. B. Bell ("Timaru Post"), A. B. Clark ("Kaikoura Star"), W. D. Nichalos ("Paeroa Gazette"), T. E. M'Millan ("Ellesmere Guardian"), A. C. Cleave ("Sporting and Dramatic Review"), Noel Grand ("Woodville Examiner"), W. C. Cargill ("Morrinsville Star"), W. Jack ("Pahiatua Herald"), R. J. Gilmour ("Southland Times"), E. Abbey Jones ("Southland News"), T. 0; List ("Taranaki News"), A. M'Nicol ("Dannevirke News"), P. Bond "Hawera Star"), R. P. Furness ("Marlborough Express"), Hugh W. Crawford ("Northern Advocate"), F, Greville ("N.Z. Dairyman"), W. Thomas ("Taumarunui Press"), S. Craig ("King Country Chronicle"), L. C. Young and W. G. Rees-Jones ("Wanganui Chronicle"), Henry V. D'uigan ("Wanganui Herald").

The annual report showed that the membei'ship stood at sixty-four, the new members being the "Christchurch Sun." "Wairarapa Daily News," and "Ellesmere Guardian." The balancesheet showed a credit balance of £305.

In moving the adoption of the report, the president referred feelingly to the death of the Hon. George Jones, who had been held in tho highest esteem in the journalistic world, as well as in public life. He said the year had beep a most difficult one for newspapers in many respects, and the outlook was not so bright as had been hoped. Paper prices were hardening at the moment, and proprietors were still paying double pre-war rates for supplies, with the prospect that prices would go higher in June. For years New Zealand had maintained a very high standard in the service rendered by the Press to the public. They had lately added materially to the volume of cable news, and extended the *jope and quantity of special features, while the issues had been generally enlarged. Visitors declared that, considering the population, New Zealand had the finest daily Press in the world, and it was a matter of concern to all interested that that standard be maintained, for it affected the public as well as the proprietors. In conclusion, Mr. Earle referred to the retirement .of Mr. P. Selig from the active ranks, and spoke in appreciative terms of the great service he had rendered to the association over a long period of years. The report and balance-sheet were adopted.