FIFTY YEARS OF NEWS GATHERING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18500, 22 February 1930, Page 13 (Supplement)

FIFTY YEARS OF NEWS GATHERING

ESTABLISHED AT TIMARU, DECEMBER 19, 1870. .■■l..

JUBILEE CELEBRATED AT TIMARU, FEBRUARY 20, 1930.

Jubilee of the United Press Association

During this week, representatives of the metropolitan and provincial newspapers of the Dominion met in Timaru to' attend the jubilee meeting of the United Press Association of New Zealand, which came into existence in Timaru on December 19th, 1879. Facts concerning the formation and early history of the Association have been placed on record by the late Sir George Fenwick, who, up to the time of his death,\ was the only surviving .foundation member. Information concerning the very first efforts that were made to provide the newspapers of New Zealand with anything like an organised and systematic service of telegraphic news was not easy to obtain, but credit is given to the Government of the Colony in 1369 and 1870 of having first supplied the principal newspapers with a

telegraphic summary of news brought by the English and Australian mails. These summaries were compiled in Melbourne by an agent appointed by the New Zealand Telegraph Commissioner, as the head of the department was then called, and telegraphed on the arrival of the steamers to all the newspapers in the colony. The system was established at the instance of Mr (afterwards Sir Julius) Vogel, who occupied the position of Commissioner of Telegraphs, Postmaster-general, and Colonial Treasurer in the Government of that period. It was abandoned by the succeeding Government, and it stands to the credit of the “Otago Daily Times” that that paper then endeavoured to establish another and more satisfactory system similar to that which had proved successful in the United States. Mr Vogel again came into power, and before the “Daily Times” had time to complete its ar-

‘ rangements, his system was re-estab-lished. It is recorded, however, that ! arrival of the mail steamer at Bluff the necessities of the Treasury brought Mr Vogel to the conclusion that the receipts from press telegrams were not to be despised, and the general manager ; of the Telegraph Department was accordingly instructed to inform the newspapers that after a certain date the Government would cease to supply the mail telegrams. Outside Services. The “Otago Ddily Times” again stepped into the breach, and in 1870 made arrangements to supply a number of the newspapers throughout the colony with' services of foreign and interprovincial news. Agents were appointed in Melbourne and San Francisco to compile telegraphic summaries of news for despatch by the

steamers leaving those ports, the messages to be telegraphed to the subscribing newspapers immediately on the or Auckland, as the case might be. In connection with the service of interprovincial news, agents were appointed for the collection of news in every town of importance in New Zealand. Ministerial and Opposition papers alike joined in this service. The list of newspapers which received the telegrams were:—“Otago Daily Times,” “Lyttelton Times,” “Evening Post,” “Hawke’s Bay Herald,” “Nelson Colonist,” “Nelson Examiner,” “Wanganui Chronicle,” “Wairarapa Mercury,” “Grey River Argus,” “Marlborough Express,” “Westport Times,” “Timaru Herald,” and “Oamaru Times.” Curiously enough, the records do not mention one of the principal cities, Auckland. While this first telegraphic news service in New Zealand among a | number of the principal papers was of

an important character, it was not regarded as entirely satisfactory, and there is no record to show how long the “Otago Daily Times’s” Associated Service existed. The First Association. The first minute book of the “Otago Daily Times’ and Witness" Newspapers Company, Limited, shows that at a meeting of directors held on June 18, 1878, it was resolved “that authority be given to the Managing Director and the Editor to enter into negotiations with other colonial newspapers for the establishment of an association for the interchange of Press telegrams, the Managing Director to report to the Board before the company shall be in any way bound to any arrangement it may be deemed necessary to make.” At a meeting of the Board on October 28, 1878, Mr Fenwick reported that he had been called to Christchurch on matters connected with the formation of the New Zealand Press Association, and, although the authority given to

Mr Reed and himself had been exceeded, the Association formed, and an arrangement made with the Government for the leasing of a special wire for the despatch of Press telegraphic news, the action of the Managing Director was approved. At a preliminary meeting of newspaper proprietors who had associated themselves together for the formation of the New Zealand Press Association, held in the “Otago Daily Times” Office on November 17, 1878, those present were Mr William Reeve, of the “Lyttelton Times,” Mr G. M. Reed and Mr G. Fenwick, respectively Editor and Managing Director of the “Daily Times.” A draft basis of association was submitted and adopted, the main features of which were (1) That the Association was being formed for the mutual exchange among its members of tele--graphic intelligence, and the procuring of cable news from overseas. (2) That the management should be in the hands of a committee, whose members for the first year should be Messrs W. Reeves, A. G. Horton, and G. Fenwick, with power to add to their number. (3) That the Association should be of a strictly non-political character. (4) That the Association should include only one morning and one evening newspaper in each of the towns or cities of the colony. (5) That cable messages, for which satisfactory arrangements had been made with Reuter and the Sydney “Morning Herald,” should be supplied to members at a reduction of 25 per cent, on the charge of Id per word hitherto made. (6) All subsribing members to abide by the decision of a general meeting to be held in Wellington on December 17 for the settlement of all matters of detail. Mr E. T. Gillon was appointed manager pro tern, and he was instructed to visit Auckland, gonfer with Mr Horton, arid afterwards visit the various towns in the North Island and secure members, Mr Fenwick undertaking to visit Otago towns for a similar purpose. As a result of this bold and welcome movement, the New Zealand Press Association came into existence, and at a meeting held in Wellington

i on December 17, 1878, it was resolved j that the New Zealand Press Associa- ; , tion should consist of the following papers, and others that might be added in terms of the basis of Association: — “Otago Daily Times,” “Dunedin Age,” “Lyttelton Times” and “Christchurch Star,” “New Zealander,” “Wellington Chronicle.” “New Zealand Herald,” i “Southland Times,” “Southland News,” “North Otago Times,” “Oamaru Mail,” “Timaru Herald,” “Timaru Telegraph,” “Ashburton Echo,” “Ashfcjurton Mail,” “Grey River Argus ” “Nelson Colonist,” ‘Wanganui Herald,” “Taranaki Herald,” “Poverty Bay Standard,” and “Manawatu THnes,” and of smaller country papers the “Tuapeka Times,” “Clutha Times,” “Bruce Herald,” Western Star,” “Mataura Ensign,” and “Mount Ida Chronicle.” Mr Gillon was appointed manager. Special Wire Conceded. | At a meeting in the afternoon, Mr ; Fenwick in the chair, and the other : members present being Messrs Wilson,

Reed, Senior, and Bannehr, a draft deed of agreement with the Government for the use of a special wire was considered, and a deputation consisting of the Chairman, Mr Reeves, and Mr Wilson was appointed to wait on the Hon. the Commissioner of Telegraphs to secure some modification in the conditions. At a meeting on the following day the Chairman reported the modifications of the Special Wire Agreement had been secured. At this meeting Mr R. J. Duncan, one of the directors of the New Zealander Newspaper Company, was added to the committee. Thus was founded and started the first Press Association of New Zealand. It entered on its useful career with distinct promise of success. more especially seeing that its guiding spirits had succeeded. hUoctober, 1878. in securing from the Government for the use of its members a special wire for the transmission of the telegrams. The business of the Association was carried on with commendable energy, and the Association

lifted the provincial news from the , perfunctory and inadequate service ! previously supplied by Holt and M‘Carthy to one more in keeping with the growing requirements of the public, and the importance of newspapers of the day. The agreement with the Government for a special wire was considered to be a forward move, and it was inevitable that those newspaper proprietaries under the title of the ; New Zealand Press Agency, who had : been excluded from free participation in the service, would make strenuous I efforts to place themselves on an equal footing with their competitors. They i commenced to harass the Committee j of the Association, but eventually a second wire was provided and leased to j j the Press Agency. The whole of the j newspapers of New Zealand were thus | put on an equal footing so far as the j S'fise of special wires was concerned. ! It was soon felt on all sides that the i cost of the two rival services was far j too wasteful, and that combination was ! i imperative. Negotiations ensued, and

was followed in 1886 by the present manager, Mr W H. Atack. The Cable Service. Shortly after the amalgamation of the New Zealand Press Association and the Press Agency, Mr J. C. Syme, of the “Melbourne Age,” and Mr Bennett, of the “Sydney Evening News,” came to New Zealand, and offered a rival cable service to the Association. Reuter's representative, Mr Henry M. Collins, had a keen desire to retain the New Zealand newspapers as his clients, and made substantial concessions to the Press Association, with the result that Reuter’s service was continued. At that time economy was the watchword. and the special service offered by Messrs Syme and Bennett was declined. An arrangement was made at a later date with the “Melbourne Argus” 1 for the use of a special cable service it had developed, and presumably at this time the “Sydney Morning Herald’s”

Press messages transmitted over the colony’s telegraph lines was 94,066, and the revenue collected for same was £7940 13s 4d. For many years the United Press Association was fortunate enough to secure the use of the service supplied by the Australian papers at a low subscription, and the New Zealand Press had the benefit of the cheapest cable service ever known anywhere. Gradually the cost has increased and the quantity been enlarged. The bulk of the news still has to come via Sydney as in the beginning, and one thing that has never been reduced for long years is the Press rate for cables from Australia to New Zealand. It has, in fact, been raised. The effect of the recent merger of cable interests has : been steadily to lessen the quantity that arrives by the Pacific route. The New Zealand Press still enjoys ths I best cable service found anywhere.