JOURNALISTS ABROAD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18050, 25 September 1920, Page 6

JOURNALISTS ABROAD

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(Nkx. 40 Tho cities of Canada -vied wife-each other in their efforts to provide a hospitable reception for the delegates to the Imperial Press Conference. The representatives of the British, Press, together -with prominent journalists from India, Sooth Africa, and other Eastern possessions, including as editor from Malta, arrivjod at Sydney, C.8., in the steamship "Victorian, on July 27. The party was headed by Lord Burnham, proprietor of the London Daily Telegraph, and Mr Robert Donald, chairman of the Empire Press Union. All arrangements ■ for the reception and entertainment of the guests were carried out by tho Canadian Press Association, of which the Right Hon. Lord Atholstan is chairman, and who was capably represented throughout tho torn bv Mr C. F. Crandall, of the Montreal Star, Mr H. E. Turner represented the Council of tho Empire Press Union, London. After an inspection of important iron and steel works there, they proceeded by train to Halifax,. Nova Scotia, whero they wore formally received by the Governor and Premier. . The disaster in December, 191Y, which caused the death of 1950 people and injury of 4OCO, was recalled by the evidences that remain of wrecked buildings, but the city has recovered from the shock, and as Canada's largest Atlantic port and chief naval station, counts upon a great future. A sum of £10,000,000 is being spent upon terminals and piers, which will dock twc-;scoro of the world's largest ships at one tone. During the journey from Halifax ; to St. John's, New Brunswick, the party .visited Grand Pre, when Lady Bumham unveiled a monument to Evangeline, the Maid of Grand Pre, and heroine of Longfellow's fine poem, on the sito tradition allots to the church where the Edict of Deportation was read. In performing the 'ceremony Lady Burnham said that Evangehne was symbolic of tile womanhood that has made tho British and French races what they are to-day. She added that history las shed another light on the old Arcadian story, and we see to-day that the British policy was not so black as it was painted." The progress through New Brunswick and Quebec to Montreal, the metropolis of Canada, was marked by a succession of erne- receptions. In the course of their journey the delegates visited the extensive works of the Laurentide Pulp and Paper , Company, where they were shown the process of. taming • timber into paper. The entry into Montreal marked one of the most important stages in what' can only be compared to a royal progress. Here they were entertained by Lord Atholstan at a sumptuous banquet, at which were assembled prominent representatives of the great.commercial and industrial interests of ««l a °t leading journalists upon the host's nmtaW Professor Stephen r^ ,^'^ *"? selected to - propose the ..toast "Our Guests," entered into a. Woroas calculation oTthe number of, hmches and dinners they would &.<«S«c*ed to eat in order to satisfy 'ht • i! P ", nt °* .Wfoliiy which Canada cherished towards them. The banquet wa= the journalists -were entertaineddur- ? 8 i *fe *?"• A ' a o ** featar e introduced took the form of a tableau displayinglhe flags of the various divisions of tSfEm! pue, accompanied by appropriate mnsia lie speeches xnamly of a patriotic cha£ «rter, ven above the average; one of the most notable the plea put forward by ?• *»**»"*. ,<* the- Provident h ° *» °\™°™l7 ferreted out and intrigueeTf Bernstoff, German Minister to the United States in the years preceding the declara£on of -war by fiat country. Mr Rathom J* , a K>e3rs, wa 3 born in Melbourne, although he has been a naturalised American for more than 20 years. Ho declared that there Ww the British Empire ancTthe United, States, based on the «»««»*ries for the principles e l hter & a ? d justice - " Whe n People Sk *««"• between Mr Ra&om, "all the orator 3 and malcontents and anarohists made since the begintime are not worth one shot fired between the English-speaking peoples of the WO i.W--.-. L ° kof trouble between these nations which are living with the ideals o . n l,y h J?a they have buflt up the world's civilisation, is talk that sensible men cannot understand." .During the stay of the delegates in Montreal the M'Gill University, ono of the great universities of America, at a special convocation, conferred on four of the visitors the honorary degree of LLJD which as the highest honour in the gift 'of the •university. Sir Arthur Carrie, who commanded the Canadian Army during the -war and j)ho, has .recently been appointed prinl cjfial..\and •race-chancellor, presided. The recipients of degrees ivere Viscount \ ham, Sn- Harry Brittain (from England) Mr T. W> Leys (from New Zealand), and' Mr R. S. Ward Jackson (from Sooth Africa) Loud Boraham. acknowledged the honour oii behalf of the British representatives and Mr T. _W. Leye spoke in the name of the journalists from, overseas dominions. In the course of his address Dγ Leys made fPjxnal reference to the magnificent private ind led to the foundation oTM Gill Unrronrity, and tririch had since gifetly enriched it by the endowment of colleges devoted to engineering aad agriculture: _ He laid stness upon the work done by uniyeisitMß in coxr&atmg unsound dootrines_ of political economy, •which were destructive to liberty and social order, and also.; pointed out tbsfc umveraitiea, broadly based, contributed materially to the creation of that etfuaEfcy of opportunity which was' , indispensaßle to tfie life and paegress of any demoorstio comn>tnnty. When the press representatives visited Toronto, after the conference at Ottawa, degrees were conferred iby tho unhrersity of that city upon Sir Campbell-Stuart of the- Times; Mfr Robert Donald, formerly editor of the London Chronicle; Sir "Robert Brace, editor of <3ie Glasgow Herald; and Mr G. E. Fairfax, of the Sydney Morabg Herald THE CONFERENCE AT OTTAWA. After nine days spent m themserves and tho objects of their visit known _to the people of Canada, tho delegates arrived at Ottawa on August 4, and the serious business of tho conference was inaugulated on the following day by his Excellency •lie Governor-General, the Duke of Devonshire, -whose address was supplemented by speeches delivered by the Prime Minister cf Canada; Mr Mcigben. and tho Leader of tbe Opposition. Mr W. L. Mackenzie-King. The first subject dealt with was that of cable services and wireless facilities, and desolations were adopted urging tho Home end overseas Governments to assist in securing cheaper cable charges and encourage the development of cable, wireless, and other facilities for the interchange of news and opinion within the Empire. The ultimate attainment of a penny per word rate was suggested as the ideal to be aimed at. The provision of a complete system of wirelees and telephonic communication throughout Empire was strongly urged. A dieapenmg of postal rates also found fewour with the conference, the reduction to apply to periodicals as well as to newspapers and letters. The Empire Press Union was urged to take action with the object of ensuring a larger volume of Empire news but it was resolved that all news services should remain freo from Government control, and further, that no news carrier 'should be concerned, directtv or indirectly mth':?tbe collectioa and distribution of news.

The paper sapplv led to a vigorous dehate, after statements had been submitted by gentlemen oormected -with the paper mannfacturing industry, showing that the shortage was -wholly dire to the enormous demand for paper which had sprung un kqoo the war especially in the United States. A resolution moved by Mr J J Knight, of .the Brisbane Conrior, 'and seconded by Dγ T. Vf. Leys, was oarru*! unanimously, urging the Empire P ess Union to take steps to ensure an adequate Bupffl?,,, throughout the Empire. Both

•"u • >ers expxeeed surprise at the apparent \vaito of paper which was going on even in Canada in the issue of huge newspapers, while the publishers in Now Zealand and Australia -were unable to get paper for their barest supplies st any price. It was suggested thai, in providing a better distribution of paper, the journalists and nkWiiHactarera of Oanada could demonstrate in a practical way their sympathetic interest in their brethren overseas. The New Zealand delegates subsequently waited ma body on Sir George Foster. Minister of Trado arid Commerce, and pointed out to him that the preferential duty of 20 per cent, granted by New Zealand to Canada, placed publishers in that dominion in a specially unfavourable position, inasmuch as they wore unable to supplement their supplies by purchases from Scandinavia, which the Australian newspapers had done to a very great extent. The discussion of this subject led to no very clear solution of the existing difficulty, but it assisted in makinjr tho position of the New Zealand ami Australian nress with regard to paper supplies more widely known, in a quarter wliere there is tho possibility of obtaining a remedy. Lar#o additions are being made to the paper mills, which will in due time afford somo relief to an intolerable situation. The other resolutions adopted by the conference suggested an interchange of staffs, travel scholarships in journalism, the standardisation of commercial laws within the Empire, and the harmonising of tho curricula, of tho universities of the Empire. A number of amendments were made to the constitution of the Empire Press Union, providing for tho of weekly journals, magazines, and news agencies. The conference congratulated Canada upon the completion of an agreement with the West Indies nrovidintr for better means of communication and improved trading facilities. In the course of the conference addresses on Imperial subjects were deliveTed by the Hon. P. E. Blondin. Post-master-general, Sir George Foster, Minister of Trade and Commerce, Sir Gilbert Parker. Mr J. W. Dafoe, of the Winnipeg Free Press, and others. The festivities at u Canadian capital included a banquet by tho Dominion Government, presided over by the Governojvgene'Tal, a garden party at Government House., and social gatherings unon the invitation of the Canadian Club, Mr P. D. Ross, of the Ottawa Journal, and other prominent citizens.