NEWSPAPER PROPRIETORS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16675, 24 February 1920, Page 3

NEWSPAPER PROPRIETORS.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE. Per Press Association. . WELLINGTON, Fob. 23. The annual meeting of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of New Zealand was hold this evening. Mr I. behg (president) wps in the chair. The Prime Minister opened the proceedings. Mr. C. P. Skerrett, K.C., waited on tho association to acquaint it with, the aims and objects of the Welfare League. Mr. Selig spoke of the knighthood which His Majesty had conferred upon Sir George Fenwick. Th'o meeting passed a resolution: “That tho members of i>ho association desire to place on record in the minutes of the proceedings their great satisfaction at, and appreciation of, the honour conferred on Sir George Fenwick by His Majesty. They also desire to express the hope that Sir George and Lady Fenwick will long continue to enjoy the well-merited distinction.’ Sir George Fenwick replied that he looked upon the distinction accorded him less as an honour done to him than as an honour done to the profession of journalism in New Zealand. The president made, complimentary references in his address to Mr. A. M'Nicol (Dannevirke), who had- been elected to Parliament; to Mr. Robert Bell, who, during the year, had; made a gift to Canterbury University College of £3OOO to found a. School of Journalism; and to Mr. Brett and his colleagues, whoso paper (the Auckland Star) had attained its fiftieth birthday. Mr. Selig expressed some apprehension about the future supplies of paper for printing. He also referred to the world’s Press Congress, to be held in Sydney in October. He announced tho Government had decided to invite delegates attending tho Congress from other parts to ’visit New Zealand. „ ‘ ADDRESS-BY MR. MASSEY. The Prime Minister -was present at the opening of tho annual 'comei-euco of the Newspaper Proprietors’. Association. He was welcomed by the president of the association (Mr. P. Selig). Mr. Massey said ho realised the importance of a gathering of pressmen. The Press Conference of 1900 had- proved a very valuable influence in tho cultivation of sound Imperialism, and he believed New Zealand journalists who attended that conference,- and who subsequently wrote from aw. Imperial standpoint in their newspapers, had been a factor in providing the basis of the fine effort made by the Dominion during the war. Now Zealand pressmen, had not much to learn from the pressmen of tho United Kingdom, Ho would say, in this connection, that he did not like the idea of newspaper combinations for political purposes on the lines made familiar by the Novthcliffo Press. It had been the boast of tho men who controlled tho forthcliffe Press that they could make and unmake Governments andi influence the course of political life in Britain. ’That was not u desirable state of affairs, and not good' for the Empire. It was true that the Northclifte newspapers had done some very good work during tho war, particularly during 1916, out tha direction of public affairs by newspapers was not a right thing. The cable news service from Britain to New Zealand, said Mr. Massey, was quite good, though occasionally it contained traces of “inspiration,” but the news sent from Now Zealand to Britain was inadequate In quantity and poor in quality. Often it was ludicrous. Australia was securing a. great deal of publicity in. the British Press through well-organised channels, and Canada and New Zealand seemed left in the cold. It would bo necessary, if .proper publicity could not be obtained in any other .way, to arrange for the dispatch to Britain of a weekly nows cablegram from New Zealand. .This news, could then be handed by the High Commissioner to any newspapers that would publish it. There should he no political colour about such a message, and he would prefer to have it sent by the Press.