BIG PRESS MERGER

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2314, 5 December 1925, Page 15

BIG PRESS MERGER

REUTERS AND PRESS ASSOCIATION. KEEPING news channels pure [By Electric (cubic —Copyright.] [Aust. and N.Z. Cable Association. ] ' (Received Friday 8.15 p.m.) LONDON December 3. It is asnouncod that Sir Roderick Jones, as chief proprietor of Reuter’s Agency, has completed arrangements by which the Press Association of the United Kingdom and Reuter’s Trust, the latter composed of the hitherto existing proprietors of Reuters, become the joint owners of Reu ter’s Agency.' Sir Roderick will occupy the position of chairman and managing director under the new regime and the majority of the Board will consist of representative newspapermen. Stress is laid on the fact that there will be m change in the management of Reu tor’s or in the agency’s policy in Imperial and foreign affairs, consistently pursued —roughout its existince. Sir Roderick’s aim ever since hfe succeeded the late Baron Reuter, has been to join the newspapers of the United Kingdom in the ownership of the agency, in order to place Reuters above the variations in ownership and control that -would result from its continued dependence upon the life of one individual, also to ensure both j the permanency of the Agency’s relationship with the British pi ess and its inviolability against outside influences. Mr Arthur Pickering, chairman of the Press Association in speaking at a meeting of members of the Press Association, when the new derangements were confirmed said; “1 consider this a matter of great magnitude and vital Importance to the press Of this country. Our action has not been dictated by any motive other than that of securing for the Bi'f&sh pn n s, of which we regard ourselves in a measure as trustees, the control ol this most important foreign news agency Our primary object, like that of Sir Roderick Jones, has ; been to ensure continued safeguarding "beyond the lifetime of any one proprietor of our foreign news from the possibility of contamination and from exploitation.’’