EFFICIENT NEWS SERVICE

Evening Star, Issue 23816, 21 February 1941, Page 5

EFFICIENT NEWS SERVICE

WAR DIFFICULTIES SURMOUNTED PRESS ASSOCIATION TRIBUTE In his address to the annual meeting of shareholders of the United Press Association, held at Rotorna to-day, the chairman of directors (Mr E. A. Blundell) said : “ I would like at the outset to pay a tribute to those who, in the face of intense bombing and the most difficult working conditions, have maintained an efficient news service from the heart of the Empire. To the members of the staff of the London office of the Australian Associated Press, with which wo are associated in obtaining our overseas nows, the highest praise is due for their courageous behaviour and devotion to duty. Some of them have lost their homes; all of them, men and women alike, share the hazards of London—hazards that I have no doubt would have to be experienced to be roalised—yet they cany on with energy and enthusiasm. In the course of a letter to his directors, Mr R. Irvine Douglas, London manager and editor, said: ‘I have not hoard one complaint —only expressions of gratification at the privilege of being able to supply a news service in such a vital crisis.’ Mr Douglas, in a reference to a New Zealand member of bis staff, Mr Trevor lloss, bis second in charge, said: ‘He works throughout the night, and thus, except for his days off—by no moans regular—bis time is divided literally between working at night and sleeping in the day time.’ Mr Douglas added that, without exception, the staff had responded to the very heavy calls made upon them. This apnlicd not only to the editorial staff, but also to the messsengers and typists. “ I am sure yon will all .join me in tliis expression of admiration of the work that is being done in London.”

Mr Blundell said that the volume of overseas news supplied to the subscribers to the association’s cable service durina the year had amounted to 1,790.866 words, easily a record in the association’s history.