UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2973, 8 March 1911, Page 3

UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING. QUEENSTOWN, February 22. The annual meeting of the Press Association was held here to-day. The following were present:—Messrs G. Fenwick (chairman, Otago Daily Times), H. Brett (Auckland Star), L. Blundell (Evening Post), H. Horton (New Zealand Herald), P. Selig (Christchurch Press), C. S. Smith (Dunedin Star), P. Dinwiddie (Hawke's Bay Herald), F. E. Hyman (Lyttelton Times), F. J. Kilgour (Greymouth Star), W. Gothard (Westport Times), F. Pirani (Feilding Star), W. C. Weston (Taranaki Herald), R. Bell (Ashburton Mail), P. Bond (.Nelson Colonist), A. A. Lucas (Nelson Mail), N. M'Crobie (Waihi Telegraph), W. M'Cullough (Thames Advertiser), H. D. James (Grey Argus), W. H. Eobinson (West Coast' Times), G. R. Joyce (Timaru Post), E. G. Kerr (Timaru Herald), W. H. Parkinson (Hawea Star), W. Atkin (Westport News), G. Carson (Wanganui Chronicle), Hon. G. Jones (Oamaru Mail), R. Furness (Marlborough Herald), C. L. Duigan (Wanganui Herald), T. L. Buick (Dannevirke Advocate), G. J. Anderson (Mataura Ensign), A, Blanton (Dominion), and D. Gilmour (Southland Times). Messrs Warren (Wakatipu Mail) and Gill wero also present by invitation. Alterations were approved in the articles of association increasing the number of directors by two for the purpose of representing papers outside the four cities. Messrs Carson and Pirani j were elected to these positions without I opposition, and Messrs Brett and Horton, I who were the retiring members of the old board, were also re-elected unopposed. Mr Fenwick, chairman, delivered an address dwelling on the great development of the cable service and the work I of the association generally, which the I meeting ordered to be printed and cir- ! culated to members. The balance sheet and report were passed. February 23. At the meeting of the Press Association yesterday, on the motion of Mr F. H. Kilgour, of the Greymouth Star, it was decided to hold the next meeting at Greymouth. j February 25. i The Piress Association completed its business to-day. Mr H. Brett (Auckland I Star) was elected chairman in succession I to Mr G. Fenwick, to whom a hearty vote i of thanks was given for his services during two heavy years. | At a social last night, the Mayor (Mr J. Edgar) presided, and gave a hearty | welcome to the' visiting journalists, in a ! speech which brought back reminiscences 1 of the days in Scotland when newspapers ' had to pay heavy tax. He also proposed the toast of the evening, "The New Zealand Press Association." Mr L. Hotop proposed the toast of ''The Press and ; the Newspaper Proprietors' Association" in a pithy and practical speech. Mr I Young, S.M., proposed "Parliament," to I which the Hon. G. Jones responded. The ; toast of "The Borough of Queenstown" was also duly honoured'. The social was a most successful function. A feature of the evening was the speech by Mr G. Fenwick, of Dunedin, who gave his hearers a vivid sketch of the great Imperial Press Conference in 1909; of the beauties of the Old Country, with its historic associations; of the beauties of this new country, typified in the great lake and mountain scenery surrounding the place where they were meeting—which, be pointed out, must in the course of time produce an effect on the minds and temperament of those brought into daily contact with them. Next in importance to Mr Fenwick's address were th« contributions of the Rev. Horace Packe, vicar of Wakatipu, a humourist of the first order, whose genial and original style and command of music were received with delighted appreciation by the visitors. The Hon. G. Jones, Messrs F. Pirani, Carson, and others also spoke briefly and to the point.