BRITISH EMPIRE PRESS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19124, 19 March 1924, Page 8

BRITISH EMPIRE PRESS.

CONFERENCE IN AUSTRALIA. (From 0 its Own Correspondent.) LONDON, February. Prior to leaving for Australia the Right Hon. ,S. M. Bruce cent the following letter to Viscount Burnham: ” Dear Lord Burnham,—Before leaving England there is a matter upon which I feel that I should not fail to write to you as president of the Empire Press Union, and that is the projected conference of newspaper proprietors and editors of the British Empire, that I understand is to be held in Australia next year, at the invitation of the press of our commonwealth. Personally, I am deeply impressed by the possibilities of such an assembly on Australian soil. Australia and her resources need to be more clearly known and better understood by the people of Britain and the dominions, and I can conceive no way in which this object culd be more effectively achieved than by bringing to our shores the representative leaders of the British press throughout the vcrld. Ignorance of one another and the indifference engendered by such ignorance are our 'besetting faults ae a commonwealth of nations. A press conference and tour ,u Australia could give to _ every British newspaper reader—and that is Die general public in the widest sense, of the term—first-hand unbiassed information of what Australia has to offer. •• I feel I can, with all confidence, assure the conference of a most hearty welcomo by the people of Australia, and every possible assistance by the Commonwealth Government. Much must depend, of course, upon the character of the delegation from Britain. It ie most important that this should be adequately representative of the British press, and include either the proprietors, the editors, or directors of the great newspapers of the Mother Country. I find strong assurance that it will be so constituted in the fact that you intend ycunelf to take part in the visit. Indeed, if one could choose the delegation at will, no better beginning to the list could bo conceived. In fact, without your name, and the unique combination of the finest traditions of English journalism and of public service for which your name stands, the list would indeed be p.n unsatisfactory one. Wishing you all success, and looking forward with very pleasant anticipation to our meeting in Australia next year.— Yours very sincerely, S. M. Bruce.”