THE JOURNALISTS DINNER

Evening Star, Issue 11895, 25 May 1903, Page 6

THE JOURNALISTS DINNER

After the annual business meeting on Saturday night the pressmen adjourned to another room in the Coffee Palace, where the annual reunion was held. Here the newly-elected president, Mr James Hutchiou, took the chair, and there sat down to supper, besides those connected with the journalistic profession, several representative guests, including His Worship the Mayor and the town clerk, the president of the Law Society (Mr S. Brent), the Crown Prosecutor (Mr Fraser), the Rev. Dr Waddell. the Rev. Father Cleary (who edits the ‘Tablet’), Messrs H. D. Bedford and J. A. Miilar, M.H.R.s, and Mr Orchiston, of the Telegraph Office. Qaite a number of speeches were made, and qnite a lot of nice things said about the men who, working mostly at high pressure, strive to turn out as readably as possible that literature which, as Mr J. F. M. Fraser said in the course of his address, dies in a day. Yes, they said these things, but our reporters went on strike for the evening, and said that they were not going to blow the'r own trumpets in print. Therefore we give but a brief indication of the trend of the addresses.

The toast of "The King” having been duly honored, the President proposed “The Profession of Journalism.” This was a toast they, might all drink with pride. Be went on to instance some of the most enrnent men connected with the Press, ana foupled with the toast the names of Mr J. W. Jago (of the ‘Star’), the Rev. Dr Wad dell, the Rev. Father Cleary, Mr D. H. Cameron (of the ‘Times’), and Mr F. M. Byrne (of the ‘Tnsneka Times’), each of whom replied on behalf of the branch of journalism he represented.—Mr Jago, in reply, spoke of his long connection with th” commercial side of the Press, and from bis experience he had been impressed with the high tone of journalism in New Zealand.— Dr Waddell sa : d he took this, the first opportunity, of thanking the Institute for electing him a member. Journalism, next to the pnlpit. exercised perhaps tue greatest power in society. He would like to remind those present of the saying that while it was good to have a giant’s strength, it was tyrannous to use it like a giant. He himself had to go through a great number of exchanges, and thought the tone of New Zealand journalism stood high when compared with that of the Old World.—The Rev. Father Cleary endorsed the last speaker’s remarks as to the tone of New Zealand journalism, and said he was glad to see the traditions of the Uld Country being .•dhered to.—Mr Cameron (replying on behalf of the reporters) said the work of the Dunedin reporters was very heavy compared with that of those in other centres, a? greater prominence was given locally to the proceedings of public bodies, and in his opinion deservedly so.—Mr Byrne (on behalf of country journalism) said that the latter differed onlv in degree from city journalism, as the aims of both were th» same, though in the country the sphere of a newspaper was more limited. Mr P. Raynor next proposed the toast of " The Learned Professions," coupled with the names of Messrs Fraser and Brent.—Mr Frasers response took the form of an appreciation of the work of the reporters with whom he had had most to do. These men, he said, were the backbone of the Press, and he wanted to pky them a high tribute. He thought there was no class of men in the City so trusted as the reporters of the daily papers. In this connection he instanced the many daily proofs of the confidence reposed in them by public bodies, companies, etc. In this province, at least, the reporters lived up to the highest standards of journalism, and he had never, in the whole coarse of his professional Hfe, known one of them to abuse his position. He then went on, to the general amusement of his listeners, to tell how it was a part of the reporters’ work to< disentangle the mazy utterances of public speakers, make sense of them, and “ supply the English” in every case. The p°op!e of New Zealand might congratulate themselves on their “Press.”—Mr Btent also briefly responded, and exempt fied the con nection between the Law and the Press by the relation of an anecdote both amusing and apropos. Mr Albert Cohen, in proposing “ The New Zealand Parliament,” referred to the length of time he had been connected with the House. The Otago members were most assiduous in attention to their duties, ami he would like to take that opportunity of enlisting their support in the matter of the Libel BUI. —Mr Bedford, M H R., in responding, said he believed the relationship between parliamentary life and journal’sm was of the closest. During his candidature he had waited the verdict of the rewspap rs in fear and trembbng, but the Press had been a great fri md to him. (Applause) Mr Millar, M.H R., said he was^indebted o the Dunedin papers for the kindly wav n which they had treated h : m. He bad i_ ways been satisfied to take the criticism ihey pave him. and give it to them again when he got the chance.—.(Laughter.) As to the Libel B'll, if more freedom wcr»a Rill, the high standard of the Press might be lowered in some cases, fe was prepared to give protection to the newspapers against the blackmailer. Personally, he did not care what a newspaper as long as it was true. It was laid ■ own already by the. highest courts that when a paper stated that which was actu’'ly true it had not been gu ltv of 1 h“l. He hoped never to see a New Zealand paper descend to the level of some American journals. He had every respect for the high standard of the colonial Press; long might t be mamtuined.—(Applause.) “The Mayor and Corporation of Dundin" was proposed by Mr George Bell, managing director of tne ‘Star,* who laid stress upon the importance of municipal politics. The Corporation watched proceedings on behalf of the citizens, and attended to various great undertakings. There were many weighty matters before them bow, and as to the proposed amalgam.fj/v n

of the boroughs with Dunedin, be trusted * to gee it ao accomplished fact very (Applause.) All would agree with him that the mayor and City Corporation of.Dunedin deserved every respect and support.—(Applause.)—His Worship the Mayor, in response, thanked Mr Bell for woat he had said about the Council and the work they had to do, and endorsed what had been said by previous speakers as to the skill and integrity of the reporters. He did not beb' ve in public speakers taking refuge behind the reporters. Bongs and recitations were delivered during the evening by Messrs Hastings, Fairbaiin, Raynor, Judge, and Barclay, Mr hasten acting as accompanist.