UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3755, 2 March 1926, Page 5

UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the United Press Association was held on Wednesday, and was attended by Messrs C. S. Smith, chairman (Evening Star), Sir George Fenwick (Otago Daily Times), H. Horton (New Zealand Herald), L. Blundell (Evening Post), W. Cecil Leys (Auckland Star), W. Dinwiddie (Hawke’s Bay Herald), A. M'Nicol (Dannevirke Evening News), A. M. Burns (Christchurch Press), E. G. Kerr (Timaru Herald and North Otago Times), A. L. Muir (Herald, Gisborne), E. C. Huie (Christchurch Sun), R. J. Gilmour (Southland Times), R. B. Bell (Timaru Post) R. P. Furness (Marlborough Express), J. Coombe (Manawatu Standard), W. C. Weston (Taranaki Herald), C. W. Earle (Dominion), W. Easton (Otago Daily Times), C. A. Codlin "(New Zealand Herald), W. J. Bissett (Southland Times), H. W. Crawford (Northern Advocate), T. Williams (Westport Times), W. Aitken (Westport News), R. Bell (Lyttelton Times), 3. H. Palmer-Jones (Wanganui Herald). A. A. Lucas (Nelson Mail), S. M. Geddis (Napier Daily Telegraph), P. Bond (Hawera Star), P. Selig (Christchurch Press), W. C. Whitlock (Hastings Tribune) E. Abbey Jones (Southland News), W. J. Blundell (Evening Post), Mrs E. L. Pirani (Feilding Star), Mrs Page (Hawera Star), and W. H. Atack (Manager United Pross Association). The annual report showed that 916,621 original words of cable news had been supplied during the year. Australian news had been of unusual interest and had shown a large increase. The directors had been engaged in negotiations with Australian Cable Agencies and had made a new contract for a term of years. The past year had been noticeable in New Zealand for the large number of special functions, such as the opening of the Exhibition at Dunedin which had involved heavy reporting. Congratulations were offered to Sir Henry Brett on his knighthood. The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet, commented on the operations for the year and mentioned that Mt Selig, after 17 years’ serviqe, had retired from the directorate, and his colleagues had marked the occasion by passing the following resolution:—

That in accepting Mr Selig’s resignation the board places on record ita great appreciation of the valuable services rendered by him as a member of the board and on several occasions as its chairman. The members of the board part with Mr Selig with genuine and deep regret and trust he may bo spared for many years to enjoy his retirement from business cares. The vacancy had been filled by the appointment of Mr A. M. Burns, manager of the Christchuroh Press Company, whom he welcomed to the meeting in his new capacity. The report and balance sheet wjto then adopted. Messrs 11. Horton (New Zealand Herald) and W. Cecil Leys (Auckland Star), retiring directors, were re-elected. Messrs Dinwiddie (Hawke’s Bav Herald), and M’Nicol (Dannevirke Evening News),

representing the country press on thd board, did not offer themselves for re-elec* tion, and Messrs E. G. Kerr (Timard Herald) and A. L. Muir (Poverty BaJS' Herald), were elected in their place. Wellington was chosen as the next plaod' of meeting A heartv vote of thanks was passed Cq| the president and the committee of the Exhibition, and to the Dunedin Newspaper Proprietors for their attentions to mem* bers of the Press Conference. At a subsequent meeting of Kir George Fenwick was elected chairman for tlie ensuing year.