WIRE AND CABLE

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 150, 21 December 1929, Page 10

WIRE AND CABLE

THE LATEST NEWS

PRESS ASSOCIATION'S WORK

MTEEESTINCt JUBILEE

How the newspapers of the Dominion come to enjoy an unrivalled telegraphic and cable service of news is revealed in the history of the United Press Association, which this week celebrated its jubilee. This history is full of interest, and is inseparably bound up with the development of the telegraphic and cable services of New Zealand. The Government of the colony in the years 1869 and IS7O must be given the credit of having first supplied the principal newspapers with a telegraphic summary of news brought by the English and Australian, mails, according to the late Sir George Fenwick, who shortly before his death compiled an interesting booklet on the Association's history.

These news summaries, he says, were compiled in Melbourne by an agent appointed by the New Zealand Telegraph Commissioner, as the head of the de-' partnient was then called, and telegraphed on the arrival of the steamers to all the newspapers in the colony. The system was established at the instance of Mr. (afterwards Sir Julius) Vngel, who occupied the position of Commissioner of Telegraphs, Postmas-ter-General, and Colonial Treasurer in the Government of that period. It was abandoned by the succeeding Government, and it stands to the credit of the 'Otago Daily Times" that that paper hen endeavoured to establish another and more satisfactory system similar to that which had proved successful in the United States. Mr. Vogel again came into power, and before the "Daily Times" had time to complete its arrangements, his system was re-estab-lished. It is recorded, however, that the necessities of the Treasury brought Mr. Vogel to the conclusion that the receipts from Press telegrams were not to be despised, and the general manager of the Telegraph Department was accordingly instructed to inform the newspapers that after a certain date the Government would cease to supply the mail telegrams.

The "Otago Daily Times" again stepped into the breach, and in 1870 made arrangements to supply a number of the newspapers throughout the colony with services of foreign and interprovineial news. Agents were appointed in Melbourne and San Francisco to compile telegraphic summaries of news for dispatch by the steamers leaving those ports, the messages to be telegraphed to the subscribing newspapers immediately on the arrival of the mail steamer at Bluff or Auckland, as the ease might be. In connection with the service of interprovincial news, agents were appointed for the collection of news in every town of importance in New Zealand. Ministerial and Opposition papers alike joined in this service, but, although of an important character, this telegraphic news service was not altogether satisfactory. PRESS ASSOCIATION FORMED. In June, 1878, at a meeting of directors of the "Otago Daily Times" and "Witness" Newspapers Co., Ltd., it was-resolved: "That authority be given to the managing director and the editor to enter into negotiations with other colonial newspapers for the establishment of an association for the interchange of Press telegrams, the managing director to report to the board before the company shall be in any way bound to any arrangement it may be deemed necessary to make." Further meetings held in various centres resulted in the formation in October, IS7B, of the New Zealand Press Association, the following papers being members:— "Otago Daily Times," "Dunedin Age," "Lyttelton Times" and "Christchurch Star," "New Zealander," "Wellington Chronicle," "Now Zealand Herald," "Southland Times," "Southland News," "North Otago Times," "Oamaru Mail," "Tiniaru Herald," "Timaru Telegraph,"•."Ashburton Echo," "Ashburton Mail," "Grey River Argus," "Nelson Colon-1 ist," "Wanganui Herald,'^ "Taranaki Herald," "Poverty Bay Standard," and "Manawatu Times," and of smalls er country papers the "Tuapeka Times," "Clutha Times," "Bruce Herald," "Western Star," "Mataura Ensign," and "Mount Ida Chronicle."

An agreement with the Government for a special wire was made, but it was inevitable that those newspaper proprietors under the title of the New Zealand Press Agency, who had been excluded froA free .participation in the service, would make strenuous efforts to place themselves on an equal footing with their competitors. Political agitation resulted in a second special wire being provided and leased to the Press Agency. RIVAL FORCES JOIN. It was, however, soon felt on all sides that the cost of two rival services was far too wasteful and that combination was imperative. A series of meetings between the rival parties paved the way for bringing to an end the ruinous competition in telegraphic news between different sections of the Dominion newspapers. In December, 1579, at Timaru, a meeting was held for the purpose of forming a United Association for conducting the telegraphic business of the Press of the Colony. Mr. George Fcnwick was voted to the chair, and the others were Messrs. A, G. Horton, "Herald," Auckland; H. Brett, "Star," Auckland; H. Blundell, "Post," "Wellington; the Hon. W. Reeves, "Times" and "Star," Chris tehureh; A. G. Fraser, "Morning Herald," Dunedin; J. W. Jago, "Star," Dunedin; and H. Belfield, "Herald," Timaru. No record is given in the minutes of the names of the papers which eventually united to form the new association, but the number was 48.

A committee, consisting of Messrs. Beeves (chairman), Fenwick, Horton, Brett, and H. Blundell, was appointed to conduct the affairs of the new association, and ultimately became the first Board of Directors when the association was formed into a joint stock company. Up to then they were described as the Board of Management Mr. E. T. Gillon, who had been manager of the New Zealand Press Association, became manager of the United Association, and when he resigned in 1884 Mr. G. Humphries succeeded, and was followed in 1886 by the present manager, Mr. W. H. Atack. NEW ZEALAND'S CABLE NEWS. Arrangements had been made with Renter and the ".Sydney Morning Herald" for cable news. But in 1887 discontent with Eeuter's service was rife. Several Australian papers thereupon made plans to provide New Zealand with an entirely new service and Reuters service took a back seat for 25 years. For many years the United Press Association was fortunate enough to secure the use of the service supplied by the Australian papers at a low subscription, and the New Zealand | Press had the benefit of the cheapest cable service ever known anywhere. Gradually the cost has increased and the quantity beeu enlarged. The bulkof the news still has to come via Sydney as in the beginning, and the one thing that lias never been reduced for long years is the Press rate for cables

from Australia to New Zealand. It has, in fact, been, raised. The effect of the recent merger of cable interests has been steadily to lessen tho quantity that arrives by tho Pacific route, which is much the less costly to New Zealand. i'or these reasons subscriptions of tho Association newspapers have had to be raised from time to time, and, no doubt, will still have to be increased owing to the steady increase of news, the lessened use of the Paciiie service, and the' heavier cost via Australia. "Yet, 'and 1 lay particular stress on this," concludes Sir George . Fenwiek's article, "the Australian and New Zealand Press still enjoys the best cable service to be found anywhere."

The present directors are Messrs. A. G. Henderson ("Christchurch Times"), C. S. Smith (Dunediu "Star"), T. C. List ("Taranaki News"), E. AbbeyJones ("Southland News"), W. C. Leys ("Auckland Star"), H. Horton ("New Zealand Herald"), and L. Blundell ("Evening Post"). Mr. Blundell has served on the' board for 36 years, record period* for any »of the present members.