PROMINENT JOURNALIST

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19240, 4 February 1937, Page 4

PROMINENT JOURNALIST

MR. A. M. BURNS PASSES FEW DAYS’ ILLNESS LIFE OF MANY INTERESTS (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. The death occurred to-day of Mr. Alexander Melvin Burns, general manager of the Christchurch Press Company, who returned to Wellington from Australia on Friday and was taken suddenly ill on Tuesday. The death of Mr. Burns removes a prominent figure in New Zealand journalism, and his passing will be deeply regretted, for the New Zealand press will be the poorer by its loss.

Educated in ,the Riverton; DistrictHigh .School- and: (Southland Boys’ High School, Mr, Burns .joined the staff of the New Zealand Press Association, Wellington, in 1890, and he remained on the association’s staff for 17 years. In 1896 he established an agency of the Press Association at the Eastern Extension Company’s cable station at Wakapuakn, near. Nelson, in the days, when .Wakapuakn was the New Zealand terminus of the transTasman cable. . Overseas cable news was then received and distributed throughout the Dominion from Waka- 1 mka, but tne station w'as subsequently transferred to Wellington. Moving to Wellington with other members of the staff, Mr. Burns was appointed the Press Association’s Parliamentary reporter, and he was elected chairman of -he Press Gallery for several years. In 1906 Mr. Burils entered in'to a new phase of journalism with his appointment as chief sub-editor of the Christeliureh Press, a position which e held until 1924, when he was made assistant editor. The folio-wing year ie was appointed general manager of the Christchurch Press Company, a post which he filled with distinction until his death.

Mr. Burns was also chairman of directors of the United Press Association of New Zealand, and had long been associated with committees of the New Zealand Newspaper Proprietors’ Association. He w r as also a director of the New Zealand Referee Company in Wellington. An enthusiastic rower in his younger days, Mr. Burns was a life member of the Wellington Rowing Club.

During his 30 years' residence in Christchurch, Mr. Burns took an active interest in various local institutions for the well-being of the community. He was a member of the council of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, vice-president of the Canterbury. Employers’ Association, vice-president of the Christchurch Savage Club, Christchurch Rotary Club, and Canterbury Advertising Club. He was well known in the Rotarian movement throughout the Dominion. In lodge circles lie was a member of the Pacific Masonic Lodge, Wellington, Civic Lodge, Christchurch, and Past Masters’ Lodge, Christchurch.

He married Mary Elizabeth, the only daughter of the late Mr. John Brown, of Hawker street, Wellington, but his wife predeceased him in 1927. Mr. Burns leaves two sons, Mr. Melvin ,T. Burns, of the legal firm of Messrs. Horner, North and Burns, Hawera, and Dr. Graham Campbell Burns.