EMPIRE PRESS UNION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19738, 15 March 1926, Page 7

EMPIRE PRESS UNION

PROTEST AGAINST-BROAD-CASTING. EMIGRATION PROBLEMS DISCUSSSED. (I’re** association— By I'megrapU—Copyright.) LONDON, March 12. (Received March 13, at 5.5 p.m.) Tne Empire Press Union discussed a cablegram urging tne special protection of tne interests of the press of the dominions with reference to wireless broadcasting, especially of news for which the cable societies paid large sums. The fear was voiced that the news bulletins from Rugby were threatening the interests cf the press and that news belonging to the various affiliations in England was bein- distributed broadcast by the Foreign Office service. The cablegram was referred to a special committee. The* resolutions of the Empire Press Conference were presented to the meeting. Sir Robert Donald (chairman) deplored the Post Office’s lack of enterprise regarding communications, instancing its reference to wireless as a subsidiary service. The Imperial cable in 1925. he said, lost £34,000, proving that its methods were obsolete, which unhappily seemed to be the Post Office’s reason for refusing to scrap it. The communications and resolutions were referred to a committee for a report. , Mr P. A. Hurd, M.P., said that the migration resolution should have mentioned the barriers raised by the dominions. many cf which were hidden. Viscount Burnham declared that all the barriers were not overseas. It was decided to call a conference ci the Overseas Settlement Committee, the High Commissioners and Agents-General and the newspaper proprietors, Mr il. P. Colebatch (Western Australia) remarking that it would be useful if it only removed the impression that obstacles were being deliberately raised overseas. Mr Hurd moved and Sir Harry Britain seconded a motion expressing the union’s regret at the estrangement cf Canada and the Pacific Cable Board and the hope that the differences would be settled in a spirit of goodwill and mutual accommodation. Mr Hurd mentioned that he had been informed that such a resolution was likely to be fruitful. The union adopted a comprehensive vote of thanks to the Australian and New Zealand hosts.—Reuter and Sydney Sun Cables.