UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21265, 20 February 1931, Page 12

UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING. (Pee United Press Association.) ROTORUA, February 19. The annual meeting of the United Press Association was held to-day, Mr E. Abbey Jones (Invercargill) presiding. There were also present: Sir Cecil Leys (Star, Aucldand), Messrs H. Horton (Herald, Auckland), L. P. Blundell (Evening Post, Wellington), A. M. Burns (Press, Christchurch). C. Stanley Smith (Star, Dunedin), W. Easton (Otago Daily Times, Dunedin), T. C. List (News, New Plymouth), W. Weston (Herald, .New Plymouth), E. C. Huie (Sun, Christchurch), C. W. Earle (Dominion), A. M'Nicol (News, Dannevirke), H. Crawford (Advocate, Whangarei), A. L. Muir (Herald, Gisborne). P. Bond (Star, Hawera), R. B. Bell (Guardian, Ashburton), and R. J. Gilmour (Times, Invercargill). Permission to attend as non-members was extended to Messrs J. Montgomery, P. Selig (Press, Christchurch), W. H. Atack (former manager), J. Varnham (Herald, New Plymouth). G. C. Codlin (Herald, Auckland), W. Blundell, E. A. Blundell (Post, Wellington). It was decided to remit all subscriptions due from papers affected by the earthquake, amounting approximately to £1350, for the year. The annual report and balance sheet were adopted. The meeting approved of a resolution protesting against the attitude of the Cricket Council, in refusing to grant recognition to the association’s representative for the reporting of the tour of the New Zealand cricket Team in England. Messrs C. Stanley Smith and W. Easton were re-elected directors, and Mr O. G. Kember was re-elected auditor. It was resolved to hold the next meeting of the association at Auckland.

The members of the association paid warm tributes to the retiring manager, Mr W. H. Atack, who recently relinquished active duty. A graceful compliment was paid to him by the chairman (Mr E. Abbey Jones), who 1 -invited him to read his own minutes of the previous annual meeting. This suggestion waa cordially endorsed by the meeting, and Mr Atack performed the formal duty. The presentation of a substantial cheque followed the conclusion of the meeting. The chairman said that his association with Mr Atack extended over 25 years, and in humorous vein he related some of their encounters, illustrating Mr Atack’s characteristic epistOlatory style and his determination that hia ideals should be carefully attended to. It was one of the association’s greatest assets that it had as its manager for so long a period one who was meticulously particular in regard to its affairs. He held his position by ability, efficiency, and fidelity, and could carry into hie retirement the confidence that he always had the respect of the association.

Mr P. Selig (Christchurch) said he had been associated with Mr Atack in journalism 50 years ago, and he related some reminiscences of their early days. One had only to come into close contact with the work of the Press Association office to realise what a great organisation the association was, and how much it owed to the literary and business ability of Mr Atack. Mr A. M. Burns (Christchurch Press) said that his first experience of Mr Atack was when he joined the Press Association staff as a cadet, remaining there for 17 years, and then removing to the Christchurch Press as chief sub-editor. He felt that whatever success had attended him had been due to the thorough training which Mr Atack had given him. As examples of accuracy and method, some of Mr Atack’s famous letters were embalmed in various newspaper offices, but he carried into retirement the affection and esteem of the newspaper press of the Dominion. Mr C. W. Earle, on behalf of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association, said the outstanding characteristic of Mr Atack’s long service had been his ability, loyalty, and fidelity. They were proud of the standard of their newspaper press, and Mr Atack had played a large part in creating that standard. His ideal had been the accurate, faithful, and prompt presentation of news. Members were so fully aware of his sterling worth that a little personal trait in his correspondence became a very minor matter. Three cheers followed and musical honours were accorded Mr Atack when he rose to respond. He. thanked the chairman for the opportunity to road the minutes for the last time. He would not have liked to drift simply out of the lives of the members. He playfully accounted for his style of letter-writing by relating the anxieties of the members of the board in 1887 when they; met in Auckland to hammer out the cable regulations. He had been told that he would be the most unpopular fellow in' New Zealand when they came to be carried out. He could say that. nothing he had ever written had been written in malice. In the course of some reminiscent remarks he said that he .had a vivid recollection of two outstanding events—first, the day on which the Bank of New Zealand was going to close its doors, and second, the San Francisco earthquake. Of the first event he was informed on good authority, and he managed to get from the bank £IOO in gold.— (Cries of “Who for?”) Mr Atack: Half for me and half for the association.— (Loud laughter.) All that night, Mr Atack continued he sat in the House watching the passing of the legislation which saved the bank. In regard to the San Francisco earthquake he bad seen its ruins shortly afterwards, and he could not help being struck by the extraordinary duplication that had' happened in Napier, though on a smaller scale. After relating another story of a colleague who used to leave dynamite lying about his office, Mr Atack again thanked the members for-their generous gift and their persona] tributes. The meeting heartily applauded Mr Atack, and, on the suggestion of Mr A. L. Muir, Mrs Atack was associated with the good wishes extended to the retiring manager.