PRESS OF THE EMPIRE

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 98, 27 April 1935, Page 10

PRESS OF THE EMPIRE

CONFERENCE IN AFRICA

DELEGATE'S RETURN

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, This Day.

"South Africa; though young in years, is already steeped in tradition and has made great strides along the road of nationhood.. Her people are filled with a deep sense of pride in their achievements. They like to think of South Africa the nation, but they are imbued by the most friendly and co-operative wishes for the common weal of the Commonwealth of the British Empire." Such was the impression received by j Mr. T. M. Geddis, of Napier, who with Mrs. Geddis returned today after attending the fifth Imperial Press Conference in South Africa and participating in a seven weeks'. tour of the Union, Southern Rhodesia, Northern Rhodesia, and Basutoland. Mr. Geddis spoke enthusiastically of the generous hospitality of the South African Government and of the people. The conference and the tour were successful in every detail, and every delegate would long remember the experience. The establishment of a permanent committee to meet annually and keep an eye on the development of inter-Imperial news services and other matters affecting the newspapers of the Empire was an important step. What was possibly more valuable than the instructive debates were the contacts established between representative editors and newspaper* men from various parts of the Empire —England,\ Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Ceylon, and the Straits Settlements. The deledates found that they had much in common on many subjects, and" they had formed friendships and gained first-hand knowledge on many matters. The New Zealand delegate, Mr. E. G. Kerr, of Timaru, went from Cape Town to England, where he will spend some months.