PRESS ASSOCIATION.

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 February 1911, Page 3

PRESS ASSOCIATION.

TELEGRAM^.

ANNUAL MEETING. [by. telegraph—special to the star.] QUEENSTOWN, February 23. The annual meeting of the Press Association was held yesterday afternoon, fifty papers being represented from the different parts of the Dominion. Mr George Fenwick occupied the chair and presented the following report:— "An important change in the constitution of the directorate of the Association was consummated at the extraordinary meeting of members which has just concluded. In accordance with the amended articles of the Association your directors will have pleasure in welcoming to the Board the two representatives of nonmetropolitan papers, who are to be chosen at this meeting. They feel assured that their new coleagues will by their counsel and advice assist in securing the smooth working of the Association's growing business, and that the interests of the important newspapers of the Dominion from whose ranks they are selected, will have their special and careful attention. It has been the constant aim of your directors to act with 6trict impartiality in considering the interests of those newspapers, but with the growing importance of the non-metropolitan newspapers it was only natural that they should desire representatives on the controlling body, and your directors have every reason to look forward to a harmonious and satisfactory consideration of the Association's business. "There was an increase in the cost of the cables received by the Association during the past year, partly due to a reduction in their charges, which was made by the Pacific Cable Board in August of the preceding year. This reduction of the Board's charges led to a marked amplification in the service of cable news, and we are not only giving the public the full benefit of the amount saved by the reduction, but are spending at least £650 more per annum in wire charges. , Another factor in our increased charges for the cable service is due to the fact that your directors have purchased an option over the messages of the new Independent Cable Association. The option was arranged as a basis of _ an payment to the new association, and included the risk of publication of the Independent Association service, on givingnotice to that effect. This course and option, as the shareholders are aware, could not be exercised- during the currency of our agreement" with the Australian cable svndicate, from whom we receive our cable news. The Association are also going to be adversely affected through the necessity of making provision for the remuneration and travelling expenses of the new directors, by a special payment for the Antcart ic report and other small charges. During the year the Rotorua Times and Tekuiti Chronicle joined the Association, and there arc now 72 subscribers. The cables this year show an increase from 418,067 words to 520,981, of which morning papers received 172,428 words cf English and 90,165 of Australian; evening papers 170,961 and 87,427. The report was adopted, and a great tribute paid to Mr Fenwick and the directors.

Messrs J .Brett and H .Horton, the retiring directors, were re-elected, while Messrs Pirani and Carson were elected the new directors. Each candidate briefly returned thanks. When the question of where the next conference should be held, Mr Brett (Auckland) moved and Smith (Dunedin) seconded that Timaru he chosen. Mr Kilgour (Greymouth), who spoke of the scenic Twenties of, the Coast and who made a great fighting speech, moved an amendment that Greyjnouth he selected. This was seconded by Mr Carson (Wanganui), and was ably suported by Mr Pirani (Feilding), Hon. G. Jones (Oamaru) and Mr McCallum (Wanganui). After a great discussion, The amendment was carried by a large majority. The business then concluded, Mr Ring (Greymouth) was then asked to take a group of the representatives present. The Newspaper Association Conference met yesterday mornig. In the bowling tournament of the press which took place yesterday morning, the North Island representatives played the South (two rinks). ' The South was skipped by Kilgour and Smith (Dunedin), and the North by Dinividdie (Napier) and McCrombie (Auckland). After a most interesting game the South Island won by eitrht points. The visitors will be entertained by citizens at a social in the Town Hall on Friday evening. They return to Dunedin on Monday.