NEWS SERVICE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22355, 28 February 1936, Page 13

NEWS SERVICE

PRESS ASSOCIATION increase in cablegrams EVENTFUL YEAR REVIEWED [by TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION] NAPIER. Thursday "It is fitting that on this occasion J should first make some reference to the passing of our. late beloved King, George V., whose death was mourned n ot only by his loyal subjects of the British Empire, but by the people of all nations," said Sir Henry Horton, who presided at the annual meeting of shareholders of the United Press Association to-day. "His Majesty's fino personal character, his splendid example .in the integrity of his public and private life, and his passion for service to his people and humanity at large, endeared him to countless thousands the world over. On your behalf, I cabled a message conveying the respectful sympathy of members with Her Majesty Queen Mary, and the next day received a gracious acknowledgment." Reputation Maintained The chairman said the cable ser--vice had sustained its reputation for promptitude and variety. The outstanding subjects dealt with during 1935 were the jubilee of his late Majesty King George V., the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the ' war between Italy and Ethiopia, and the critical, international situations which attended it, the rearming of Germany, the startling developments in the Far East, discussions and decisions of the League of Nations, the restoration of the Greek Monarchy, the Government of India Reform Bill, the Quetta ea.-ihquake, the death of Queen Astrid of Belgium, and the British general elections. Many other matters of worldwide interest or importance were also included in the service. There was again an increase in the gross amount of cablegram received, the total for the year being 1,233,937 -words, an increase of 60.564 as compared with the total for 1934. The tour of the New Zealand Rugby Union team in the British Isles was covered in a most liberal way,- the association receiving 27,561 words of cablegram conveying reports and comment on the matches and recording various aspects of the tour. The service had also faithfully recorded the more adventurous aspects of thp world's news, devoting generous attention to those gallant spirits to -whom (danger was a familiar but not unwelcome companion in their search for new lands, new, scenes and new sensations. * The congratulations of members would be .extended freely to Sir James Hutchison, editor of the Otago Daily Times, ■veho received the honour of knighthood from His Majesty the King. The honour that had come to him was not only a tribute to his personal and professional worth, but to journalism in the Dominion as a whole. Courage in Disaster Sir Henry said he was sure it had been a pleasure to all delegates who were attending the conference to come to Napier 'on this occasion. "We remember sympathetically the terrible experience of the earthquake and fire which devastated this city and province, and the courage with which that disaster' was faced," he said. "The new Napier of to-day is an eloquent iribut-e to the unconquerable spirit of the people of Hawke's Bay, and we all hope thty may reaj) a rich reward for their determination and enterprise. Delegates to the conference have been most hospitably entertained hv the people of Napier, and I assure our hosts that their kindness and cordiality have been genuinely appreciated." > Sir Henry then moved the adoption of the report and balance-sheet. The motion was carried. ]fwo directors, Messrs. A. 51. Burns (Cbristchur'ch Press) and W. J. Blundell (Evening Post), were re-elected unop]K»sed. Mr. O. G. Kember was reap]x>inted auditor. . A resolution conveying hearty congriitulationi to Sir Henry Horton and Sir James Hutchison on receiving the honour of a knighthood was carried. At a subsequent meeting of the directors Mr. Trevor M. Geddis was elected chairman for the ensuing year. _ Mr. Geddis is managing editor of the Napier Daily Telegraph. He was a member of the Empire Press Union delegation to Sooth Africa last year and is chairman of the Napier Harbour Board. Sir Henry Horton was granted nine months' leave of absence from April in order to visit Britain.