JOURNALISM IN HAWKE’S BAY.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12441, 6 September 1933, Page 2

JOURNALISM IN HAWKE’S BAY.

RETIREMENT OF A VETERAN. FINE RECORD OF SERVICE. Electric. Telegraph—Press Association HASTINGS, Last Night. After thirty-three years’ close association with newspaper work, 26 years of which have been spent in Hawke’s Bay, Mr William Charles Whitlock has decided to retire from active participation in journalism. From October 1 next he will Relinquish his position as managingdirector and editor of “The Hawke’s Bay Daily Herald” and “The Hawke’s Bay Tribune.” He will be succeeded by his son. Mr William Arthur Whitlock. Mr Whitlock senior’s first entry into the field that was to become his work for so many years dates back to the beginning of the century. He then acquired proprietorial interest in one of the two Stratford papers. Subsequently when they were merged under the one control he became manager for the “Stratford Evening Post.” It was early in 1907 that Me Whitlock came to Hastings and, with his partner, Mr Alfred Carncross, assumed control of the “Hast ings Standard.” Since then his interests have been intimately linked with the destiny of Hawke’s Bay At the suggestion of the late Mr William Nelson, some influential Hawke’s Bay men became interested in the formation of a company to take over the “Standard” and publish a newspaper of greater commercial'and civic value to the dis-' t-rict. On December 12, 1912, the first number of “The Hawke’s Bay Tribune” appeared. It incorporated the “Hastings Standard” and was produced under the direction of Air Whitlock, who became editor and managing-director of the new paper, in which he retained a substantial financial interest. The. disastrous earthquake of 1931 completely destroyed the building and plant of the district’s morning newspaper, and it was Air Whitlock’s prompt action and resourcefulness that enabled the “'Hawke’s Bav Herald” to resume publication before the wreckage of the earthquake had been cleared away. With the immediate co-operation of his fellow directors he was able to make the necessary financial arrangements for the carrying on of the paper. To-day the two papers stand as tangible evidence of Air AVhitlock’s service. With all their brightness and promise the years following the signing of peace brought their trials and anxieties, but success and security seemed reasonable anticipations. The depression, however, began to loom on the horizon. Its full significance had not beeli realised when the earthquake came and Hawke’s Bay had to get to work to build anew. Through this period Air Whitlock showed tireless zeal. His fellow citizens are the best judges of the value of his work at the time of the disaster and during the period of reconstruction.

With a record of editorial control approaching 27 years, during which time his conscientious citizenship has added much to his labours, Air Whitlock realises that the time has come for a holiday. He has deferred to his medical adviser and asked his fellow directors to relieve him of his duties. This they have reluctantly agreed to do,' at the same time expressing the unanimous wish that he remain a director of the company.

Subsequently the directors decided to invite Air W. A. Whitlock, Junr., of the sub-editorial staff of “The Domin ion” to accept the position of managing-editor, and ALr Whitlock has accepted the position. Mr V hillock ivas with the “Tribune until lie went into camp in 1917. He was wounded on active service in France, and early in 19]9 rejoined the staff of the ‘•Tribune.” In 1922 he went to the Christchurch

"'Sun ’ as cable sub-editor. Four years later when “The Sun” entered the Auckland newspaper field Mr "Whitlock was appointed chief subeditor of the new journal. Som» time before the Auckland “Sun” ceased publication Mr Whitlock accepted an offer to join the staff of “The Dominion” as chief sub-editor, and for the past three and a half years he has been a resident of “Wellington. He yt ill take up his new duties with Hawke’s Bay Newspapers Ltd. early in October. Among the many civic activities with which dir Y\ hitlock, Sour., lias been, closely identified are those of the Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club. For some time he was president of the Hastings Chamber of Commerce, and lie took a lending part in the formation of the Rptarv Club in Hastings. More recently his advice and assistance have been available for the Hawke’s Bay Aero Club, and he has given much direct personal service” on organisations concerned with problems arising from unemployment.