PRESS ASSOCIATION

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 9, 10 July 1931, Page 9

PRESS ASSOCIATION

OPENING OF NEW OFFICES

Representative newspapermen attended,the formal opening yesterday afternoon of the new , offices of the United Press Association in Brandon House, Featherston. street. After inspecting the offices and equipment, the visitors' were entertained at afternoon tea at Kirkealdie and Stains's tearooms by the chaw-man of the association, Mr. A. M. Burns. Those presont included Messrs. L. P. Blundell (Wellington) arid T. 0. List (New Plymouth), i directors of the association, Walter Blundell ("Evening Post"); H. Bell ("Dominion"), W. H. .Atack (ex-manager), L. Berry (secretary Newspaper Proprietor!' Association), H. J. Fleming and X.' It. Usmar (Parliamentary ,Press Gallery),-and A. B. Lane (manager). Mr. Burns said that during the balfecntury of ■ its existence the association had occupied variouß premises in the immediate vicinity of the new site. He referred to the remarkable growth of the cable service. Tho first year for which there was a record, ■1889-90, showed' that 75,000 words were received. Last year the total was nearly a million. Tho number of Press messages ( in New Zealand had increased from 94,066 in 1877-78 to 587,656 in 1930, and the revenue collocted by tho Department from these messages had increased from £7940 to £78,600. One of the best cable and telegraphic services in the .world had been built up, and the association was performing excellent service to the Press and public of New Zealand. Messrs. L. Blundell and List referred appreciatively to tho jntorcst which the chairman had taken in the association. Mr. Burns had.once been a member of the staff, and had risen to the position of chairman. Others present spoke of the goodwill manifested toward the association, and wished it continued success in its new surroundings.