EMPIRE NEWSPAPERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19138, 2 October 1925, Page 11

EMPIRE NEWSPAPERS.

CONDITIONS OP TO-DAY. WIRELESS AS A FACTOR. DOMINION PRESS INTERESTS. By Telegraph—Press Association-— I Copyright. (Received 7.5 p.m.) A. and N.2. MELBOURNE. Oct. 1. When the sitting of the Empire Press Union conference was resumed interEmpire communication was the dominant subject. A motion was passed urging the restoration of penny postage within the Empire. It was resolved to urge that wireless messages be charged at the lowest possible figure, and in the case of beam wireless stations that the rates should have regard to the lower capital costs of installation and maintenance. Mr. A. C. C. Holtz (Melbourne), moved to the effect that Australia should be allowed to control and operate her reciprocal beam wireless station in England. He contended that as Canada had this privilege Australia should be similarly treated. The president, Viscount Burnham, said the British Government had always maintained control of communications in Britain. It was obvious that in a time of crisis Mich control was imperative. Claims o 1 Other Dominions. Mr. U. Sargent (South Africa) urged that the resolution should include South Africa, as that country had a similar arrangement with Britain. Sir George Fenwick (I)anedin) said he considered the resolution should embrace all the Dominions. It might be necessary lor New Zealand to be able to act similarly. Professor Bartolo (Malta) said all sections of the Empire should be entitled to the control of their reciprocal stations if they so desired. The motion was passed in regard to Australia, and similar motions to the effect that Canada and other Dominions should control their reciprocal stations were agreed to. Dominions' News for Britain.

Mr. Hugh Denison (Sydney) moved that a fuller cable service of Australian news should be sent to Britain. He said Australian newspaper proprietors were willing to send 1000 words a day to the British newspapers for publication. This would cost the latter a total of £IO,OOO a year.

The Australian delegates strongly supported the motion. They claimed that very poor publicity was given to Australian news in the British press. They contended also that better publicity would help to expand the Empire by inducing people to come to Australia.

Mr. W. Turner (Reuter's) moved an amendment that the delegates pledge themselves to use their utmost efforts to see that more Dominion news than is now used in Britain should in future be published in their respective papers. The amendment was carried.

The president said the decision marked b great step forward. It was decided to refer it to the Empire Press Union for early consideration and report. Broadcasting Competition.

Sir Percival Phillips (England) predicted that the newspapers would have to face serious competition from Government and private broadcasting stations. He urged them to realise this fact and to be prepared as far as possible to deal with the new situation and protect their common interests.

Mr. «T. H. Woods (Canada) said his paper, the Calgary Herald, had lost subscribers through broadcasting. added that somo of the broadcasters had stolen his news. He advocated the newspaper proprietors running broadcasting in conjunction with their papers, the same as some railway companies ran buses. Mr. Holtz (Melbourne) said broadcasting did not harm the Australian papers. A motion was adopted stating that it would be an infringement of the liberty of the press to compel political articles tc be signed by the writers.