THE PRESS ASSOCIATION

Gisborne Times, Volume LXII, Issue 9947, 26 February 1925, Page 4

THE PRESS ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL MEETING OF y H y UF HOLDERS. ' * i TRIBUTE TO DOMINION CABLE SKR.VK.ES:. (PRESS ASSOCIATION) ROTORUA, Feb. 25. The annual meeting of the United Press Association was held to-day under the presidency of Mr. P. Selig. The annual report made reference to the deaths of several old members in the nor.son's of the Hon. G. Carson and Messrs. H. V. Duigan and T. I>. ■Williams. It was stated that the cab.e service had again shown an increase in the total number of original words supplied, being not far short of a million. It continued to elicit high praise from overseas visitors to New Zealand and the public. The most interesting section was probably the tour of the All Blacks. The- agreement with the Australian Press Association had been extended for the short term of eight months from December ,31. The Association had been requested to assist the movement to eliminate the "use of the word “Australasia” and the directors were in favor of doing so. The chairman, in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, made reference to tho foresight of the founders of the Association, two of whom, Sir George Fenwick and Mr H. Brett, were present that day. They were the only two left; do the original founders they were indebted £or~the establishment of a cable service which was a hold policy and had been enlarged till we now possessed a service that had repeatedly been alluded to in highly complimentary terms by visitors from abroad, men whose opinions were having. One had only to travel to learn that Now Zealand’s cable news could rightly be termed the most comprehensive presentation, day by day. of the world’s events to be found is any part of the globe. The reading public of this Dominion was highly favored in that respect and he thought this was generally recognised. It had recently been claimed in America that nowhere else could be found a similar co-operative distributing agency such as theirs, but they evidently spoke without knowledge of the existence of the N.Z. Association. Speaking of the supply of news in the future he said that wireless would before long hav-e to be taken into consideration. The possibilities of the beam system appeared to be enormous.

One of the representatives of the ?*lareoni Company recently fore.shadowed a reduction of thirty per cent, below the existing cable ratss" and possibly more. It was: also likely that in no great time there would he regular wireless telephone communication between Britain and the Dominions. He menti ji.ed that the assistance of the Association had been solicited by the Associated Chambers of Commerce in eliminating the use of the word “Australasia" and substituting some such phrase as New Zealand and Australia. In this the Association concurred and he strongly commended it to all members. lie referred at some length to, ar.-d gave some instances of, tho ignorance displayed in London, that is outside the citv, the exporting centre, respecting this Dominion, which is playing suc-h an important part in tho affairs of the Empire. The motion was carried Sir George Fenwick and Mr. C. S. Smith were re-elected directors ar.tT -Mr. 0. G. Kember was appointed auditor.

Dunedin was unanimously chosen for the next place of meeting and the meeting closed with a special vote of thanks to the staff for the v.vav it Lad handled the cables report big the All Blacks- tour and to ihe Government and Home officials for tiro attention paid to their work. After the conclusion of the "business Mr. H. Brett, who met with a hearty welcome. gave a short address to members and at a subsequent meeting M. directors Mr. C. S. Smith, of the Dunedin “Star,” was elected chairman.