PRESS ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14457, 25 February 1909, Page 7

PRESS ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING. (Per United Press Associatiox.) WANGANIJI, February 24. The annual mooting of the Press Association was held to-day. Among those present were: .Messrs Knowlos (chairman), Fenwick, Broil, L. Jilundell, Ilortun. M'CuHoiig',l, M'C'robie. A. A. Lucas, Bond', C. E. Kerr, Jovcc. W. H. Smith', Weston, MT'irlhy, Bell. Frwth, Dimviddie, Selig, Atkin, Carson. F. W. Jones, Coumbe, Hrani. Knrness. C. S. .Smith, Golhard, List, 'Walker, Page, Copping' H'iben.

The jyimmil report made (illusion to the deaths of Mr G. G. Stead (who bad been a director fur five years), of the lion. H. Feldwicl; (a very old member of the association), and Mr G. Homnhrics (who for oO years hiul been on headipiartevs staff). It was announced that a new agreement had been made with the Australian Cable Association for five years, and that a supplementary report- 'of Padia-ment adapted to the ease of papers, outside cities was now being supplied, and had met with much approval. Mention was made of the Daylight-saving Bill, and newspaper proprietors were warned that any such measure would bo most disastrous to tbo cable service unless ,-i similar scheme was adopted in Australia. Allusion was made to (lie lieavv burden imposed on evening news-pipers by the charges for press telegrams, which practically lvmniii the same as they were 30 years ago, notwithstanding the frequent concessions made to the public. The excessive cost of messages is especially felt by the smaller papers. The report referred in complimentary terms to the coming imperial Press 'Conference, and moid ioned that Messrs Fen wick and I'rett. the two oldest, members of the association's board of directors, were oinong the six reprcsentalive.s allotted to New Zealand.

The report ami balance sheet were adopted.

The meeting strongly endorsed flic complaints »f the oppressive el'lecls of the present telegraphic r«tsi=, and decided to again urge a revision.

L. ]•'. Blnndcll was re-elected a director representing flic evening papers, and Mr P. Solig was elected as the morning papers' rt'proseiiiiitivo.

Rntorua was fixed on as flic next place of meeting.

At a subsequent meeting of directors .Mr Fonwiek was elected chairman, and Mr Horton deputy chairman.