“SEVERE LOSS TO N.Z. PRESS"-- HIGH TRIBUTE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23288, 24 June 1950, Page 6

“SEVERE LOSS TO N.Z. PRESS"--HIGH TRIBUTE

(P.A.) WELLINGTON. June 23. “The death of Sir Cecil Leys is a severe and deeply lamented loss to the newspapers of New Zealand and to the New Zealand Press Association in particular,” said Mr. Ernest Blundell, chairman of directors of the New Zealand Press Association, today. Sir Cecil had a breadth of vision and keenness of perception that rendered his long service to the association of exceptional value, said Mr. Blundell. He had been a director for some 25 years and chairman on a number of occasions. “It was during one of his terms as chairman that the entry of New Zealand and Australia into the Reuter partnership was negotiated. Sir Cecil on that occasion enthusiastically supported New Zealand’s entry into that great Empire news gathering organisation and the benefits that have since accrued to New Zealand and the Empire as a whole from this partnership have amply demonstrated tire soundness of the judgment of those who conceived it. “Combining as ho did the value of long experience and constant appreciation of changing conditions, Sir Cecil Leys was a most notable figure in the development of journalism in this country'. Apart from his service to our own association. Sir Cecil took an outstanding part in the affairs of the Empire Press Union, of which he was chairman for some years, and the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association. lie will be sadly missed by us all.”