PRESS UNION

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 9, 11 July 1934, Page 19

PRESS UNION

THE EMPIRE GATHERING

SOUTH AFRICA NEXT YEAR

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, May 31. At the 24th annual general meeting of the Empire Press Union, on May 29, Major the Hon. J. J. Astor mentioned that the fifth Imperial Press Conference, which was to be held iv South Africa next year, would coincide with the 2oth anniversary of the Union of South Africa. The period proposed for the visit was May 6 to June 21 — 46 days in South Africa. At each of their past conferences there had been discussions among the representatives of the newspaper Press of the Empire upon matters of common concern. Their debates had covered the broader aspect of Imperial policy in regard to communications by mail and telegraphy, including wireless, and also the technical problems of news-, paper production. Ano less important object was that the delegates should have the fullest opportunity of studying the conditions in the particular parts of the Empire which they visited, ano; of forming direct personal contacts with their peoples. Tours had therefore been arranged in each case in conjunction with the- conference and those had been remarkably successful. AN EXTENSIVE TOUK. _ The hosts of the Empire .Press Union,! in co-operation with the Government of! South Africa, and newspapers of all shades of political opinions, were arranging a most interesting programme which would embrace an extensive tour chrough the Union and a visit to Rhodesia. The council of the Empire Press Uuiou had been'asked to send 26_ delegates from Great Britain, and this allocation had been provisionally made among the London national newspapers, the provincial Press (including Scottish and Irish), periodical and trade newspapers, and, the national news agencies. In view of the fact that this was the first conference of the kind to be held in South Africa, and of the exceptional opportunity offered for gaining a general view of the Union and a closer understanding of its conditions and problems, it was of the first importace that the United Kingdom delegation should be fully representative and authoritative. Endeavours were being made to ensure that, and although at that early stage it was impossible to give any list of names, he could say that the first efforts were meeting with a very encouraging response. ~ Referring to the late Lord Burnham, Major Astor said that as time passed the Empire Press Union realised more clearly the immense service he rendered to the aims of the union, how wise was his counsel, and how inspiring his example. There had been, in their time, few as groat and practical Imperialists. AIR MAIL SERVICES. The council noted with satisfaction Improved facilities afforded to the oversea Press by Imperial air mail services. In -September, 1933, the BritainIndia service was extended to Rangoon, and a recent acceleration of transit times enabled the Saturday dispatches from London'to reach Karachi on Thursday, Calcutta and Bombay on Friday, Madras and Rangoon on Saturday, and Bangkok and Singapore on

Sunday—eight days after posting in Jjondon. '

Sir Stanley Heed said they would have to bring very special pressure to bear upon the Post Office to ensure that the larger traffic had some relation to lower charges, I On the motion of Sir Hugh Denison, 'seeondefi by Sir Harry Brittaiii, Major Astor was re-elected president of the union. Sir Campbell Stuart proposed the re-election of Mr. Cecil Harmsworth as hon. treasurer, which was seconded by Air. C. F. Crandall (Canada).