EMPIRE PRESS UNION

Otago Witness, Issue 3859, 28 February 1928, Page 5

EMPIRE PRESS UNION

NEW ZEALAND BRANCH. WELLINGTON, February 22. The importance of maintaining throughout the Empire the best facilities possible for the publication of news and intelligence was again emphasised at the annual meeting of the Empire Press Union (New Zealand branch), which was held to-day. There were present: Sir George Fenwick (chairman), Messrs H. Horton, W. Cecil Leys,- G. E. Codlin, A. M. Burns, B. Bell, R. P. Bell, R; P. Furness, E. G. Kerr, P. Bond, A. A. Lucas, P. Selig, A. L. Muir, J. Coombe, R. H Bissett, S. C. Smith, T. L. Mills, E. C. Huie, W. C. Weston, S. R. Evison, W. H. Atack, A. G. Henderson, A. M'Nicod, Wright, and Mesdames Page and Pirani. The report of the committee said that attention during the past year was largely centred on the great strides made by wireless, and especially on tho “ beam ” system, which had been instituted between Great Britain and Australia and between Britain and Canada. In New Zealand the principal matter of interest affecting members of the branch had been the advance in wireless affaiis. Several of the leading newspaper officer in the Dominion had instituted wireless sets, the value of which had been demonstrated in the early receipt of sporting and other news. Interesting items of news fiom overseas bad also been receiver 1 , and, in accordance with the cable agreement with the Press Association, had been placed at the disposal of its subscribers for publication.

- The balance sheet showed a credit balance of £B9 18s lid. THE CHAIRMAN’S ADDRESS.

In moving the adoption of the annual report and balance sheet the Chairman eaid:

It is a pleasure to me again to meet the members and associates of the New Zealand section of the Empire Press Union, and to express to them, as I have done at many previous annual meetings, my abiding belief that the intimate connection between the newspaper press of the Empire's great and progressive dominions and the Motherland is of vital importance to both.

The opinion has been growing in strength for many years that in the enlightened and honourably Conducted press of the British Empire, and in its fairminded and fearless criticism of Governments and public men, there is a safeguard for the people and for the conservation of their vital interests which can be secured by no other means. The Empire Press Union has, particularly in recent years, by its persistent efforts, secured from the Postmaster-general of the United Kingdom and from the Imperial Government recognition of its

intelligent views in connection with cable and wireless services and other matters. The press of New Zealand is just as deeply interested in the rapid transmission of the daily news of the world as are the newspapers of Great Britain and other parts of the Empire, and the efforts of the council to secure this and to obtain reduced cable charges and increased wireless facilities have been unrelaxing and gratifyingly successful. Especially in respect to wireless, since the development of that profoundly mysterious electrical power, has the union displayed unceasing watchfulness and practical energy It is not claimed that this new channel of communication has reached the stage when it is a serious rival to the old-established cable system, but it is hoped by the council' of the union that notwithstanding uncertainty of transmission, the establishment of the “beam ” services between the United Kingdom and Canada and Australia re spectively is an augury that wireless ‘elegraphy will eventually, bring the Empire into closer inter-communication. < iieless equipment in the offices of i\ew Zealand newspapers has not yet become general, but it is only •> matter of time when it will be so, and this has been recognised by the directors of the United Press Association, who, in consulation with the association’s lawyers, gave great attention to this important question on the renewal of the overseas news agreements with its subscribers. It is not sugger by the council of the union that the new channel of transmission will immediately become a practicable alternative to submarine cables for the dispatch of news, for, as it has been pointed out, there is at present considerable uncertainty of transmission, and the cost is still higher than is considered practicable > Mf>r even an auxiliary news service between Great Britain and her dominions. Mean time a start with wireless has been made by the Imperial Government in the regular official messages which come under the despatch heading of Rugby. These have formed a reliable and much appreciated addition to the cable services, without having added to the burdensome cost of tho latter.

The increasing facilities for grasping world problems through the prompt transmission of initiatory investigations in applied science, in medicine, and in many other directions have a stimulating influence on the mind. We should all be grateful that we live in an age like the present notwithstanding the serious problems that surround us. Among the greatest of our advantages must undoubtedly be placed the possession of a free and enlightened press, supplying the people day by day with the news of the wide world, the daily record of happenings in its respective centres of publication, an inflexible upholding of its rights and liberties, and perhaps above all, a means of general education such a-s our forefathers, even within living memory, had not the good fortune to possess.

New Zealand can justly claim that in its own particular newspaper press it has an institution which it can look upon with pride, and its members, among the agencies which have led to its advance to the high position it has attained in public life, may look with satisfaction on its fine cable service and its active connection with so powerful and alert a body as the Empire Press Union. Members of our section of the union will no doubt have noticed that at the instigation of the Assembly of the Leagr of Nations, the council of that body convened a general conference of press experts of the world, which was 1 eld at Geneva in August of last year. The conference brought together no less than 118 representatives from 38 countries. From the dominions representatives attended from Canada, Australia, and South Africa, but New Zealand was not represented. Lord Burnham was president of the conference, and the members of the Empire Press Union who attended were Lord Riddell, vice-president of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association, London ; Sir Campbell Stuart, director of The Times; and Mr H. E. Turner, secretary of the E.P.U. Mr A. C. Holtz, general manager of the Argus, was the Australian representative. Many important matters affecting the welfare of the press were discussed, and in his closing address the president, in summarising the work of the conference, said it was the largest and most influential press congress that had ever been brought together. The main practical discussions centred round the means of ensuring more rapid and less costly transmission of press news, and the bast means of securing the solution of technical problems that would be conducive to the tranquillisation of public opinion in various countries of the world. In bis closing speech, Lord Burnham expressed the view that public opinion is in the long run the sovereign power n the government of men, a-nd said: “As the trustees of public opinion, we pressmen have a heavy and constant responsibility to our fellows. -All I can hope and pray is that this conference has deepened and enlarged our consciousness.”

What I have to say to-day would be incomplete did I not make reference to the sale by Viscount Burnham of the great newspaper which for more than half a century has been so ably controlled by his father, and, in later years, by himself. The Daily Telegraph has been in the very front rank of the Empire’s newspapers of modern times. Inflexibly honest in the able consideration it has given to the problems of Great Britain and her dominions, its management sound, liberal, and enterprising, the Daily Telegraph has commanded the respect and confidence of the _reat middle class among whom it principally circulates, and has been an undoubted power in the life of the nation. This un-looked-for change in proprietorship of the Daily Telegraph may or may not involve the relinquishment by Loid Burnham of his position as president of the Empire Press Union, for in a cable message I have recently received from him he says that nothing is settled for the future, and conveys his good wishes, which I feel sure will be very heartily reciprocated by this section of the union. We have had one or two losses in membership. but the report shows splendid vitality in respect to the number of our members, and it is very encouraging to find that the Dominion press occupies the honourable to your chairman to find that the Dominion press occupies the honourable position it does in this respect. It is a source of pride also to tho. ° of our members who visit England and meet the secretary of the union and members of the council to know that New Zealand has from the outset been so strong a supporter of the union. I have now occupied the position of chairman for over 18 years, and I had fully decided to ask that some other member of committee should be elected to the position at this meeting. I have been persuaded, however, by some of my colleagues on the committee, to continue in office for another year on the understanding that at next annual meeting I shall be allowed to ictire. '

The report and balance sheet were adopted. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. On the motion of Mr P. Selig, seconded by Mr H. Horton, Sir George Fenwick was unanimously re-elected chairman for the ensuing year. The committee was reelected as follows:—Messrs H. Horton, W. Cecil Leys, L. Blundell, P. Selig, \V. C Weston, C. K. Earle, C.M.G., U. S. Smith, J. Coombe, A. M'Nicoll, and R. J. Gilmour. Mr W. Dow was reelected secretary, and Mr W. Easton auditor.