HIGH STANDARDS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20232, 16 February 1934, Page 4

HIGH STANDARDS.

Press Association Year Reviewed. SERVICES MAINTAINED. Per Press Association. HAMMER, February 16. In his address to shareholders at the annual meeting of the United Press Association the chairman (Mr A. M. Burns) said that the services of the association had been carried on throughout 1933 with efficiency and promptitude. The year had not been without its difficulties, but high standards had been preserved. It had been the aim of the board to maintain the services unimpaired, while avoiding waste, and to present to the newspaper reading public, in a comprehensive, graphic and accurate manner, the news of the world. The amount of cable distributed during 1934 consisted of 1.095,308 words, an increase of 24,562 on the amount for the previous year. The principal cause of the increase was the political and economic unrest which had spared nOne of the leading nations of the world. Discussions and developments of the gravest importance occurred, and it could be asserted that the service received in New Zealand gave a faithful and illuminating picture of the march of world-shaping events. News of the World. International affairs and political and trade developments were of exceptional news interest, and they continued to excite universal attention. The most important subjects dealt with were the World Economic Conference, the Disarmament Conference and proceedings of the League of Nations, the rise of Hitler in Germany and the occurrence of extraordinary events in that country, the Soviet and the Vickers trials, the clash between China and Japan, the political and economic situation in Ireland, and the progress of events in the Indian Empire. The United States contributed largely to the cable news in the accounts of Mr Roosevelt’s economic recovery policy, his escape from assassination, the repeal of prohibition, the banking crisis, and many other items of first-rate news interest. Air disasters, long and hazardous flights, earthquakes, floods and fires had made substantial contributions to the news columns of the press through the cable service. Two Antarctic Expeditions, under Admiral Byrd and Mr Lincoln Ellsworth, had provided excellent reading of the adventure type. A fine spirit of cooperation distinguished the New Zealand service, and agents of the Press Association were performing their duties with ability and zeal. The larger items of news had been adequately covered, and there was a feeling of confidence in newspaper offices that when news did “ break ” the association could be trusted to give an entirely satisfactory service. Amendment to Libel Law. An important amendment to the law of libel had been passed bv Parliament during the 1933 session, extending privilege to the reports of inquiries held by racing tribunals, and to the findings of those tribunals. It was desirable that newspapers should be legally protected in the proper performance of a duty which they owed to the public, and the passing of the Act accomplished that object. After paying a tribute to the work of the head office staff, Mr Burns said that there was a growing recognition of the responsibilities of proprietors and agents to member-papers which was bound to operate in the direction of securing greater efficiency. The Sydney agency of the association had experienced a busy year, though there had been a comparative absence of the

political sensationalism that distinguished 1932. He made sympathetic reference to the deaths of several gentlemen who had been prominently associated with the newspaper life of the Dominion, including in his remarks the late Mr A. M’Nicol (Dannevirke), Mr W. C. Cargill (Morrinsville), Mr Walter Atkin (Westport), Mr James Shand (Wellington), and Mr Hugh M. Reeves (liororata). The sympathy of members would be extended to the bereaved families and relatives of all the gentlemen whom he had named. Mr Burns said it gave him very great pleasure to strike a personal note on this occasion. The senior member of the board (Mr L. P. Blundell) this year would complete forty years’ service as a director of the association. Mr Blundell had the affection and confidence of his co-directors in an unlimited degree, and it was their earnest hope that he would be with them for many years yet to act both as an inspiration and exemplar. Critics Answered. A matter to which he wished to direct attention was the occasional criticism of the newspaper Presfs of the Dominion which obtained fairly wide publicity. “It is one of the ironies of the situation that the critics rely on the Press to give publicity to their complaints, ■with the result that the newspaper Press alone among business concerns has to be the vehicle of its own disparagement,” said Mr Burns. “ I think I may lav it down emphatically that the Press of the Dominion neither resents nor suppresses adverse criticism when such criticism is made by persons who speak with a sense of responsibility, not to air their own grievances but to ventilate a public question. The Press, however, is entitled to demand that criticism should be measured and reasonable and not be mere outbursts of abuse or impatient allegations of shameful corruption and venality. “ The Press of New Zealand is not to be bought or dragooned either by favours or threats, but will perform its duty to the people in accordance with its views as to what is necessary and desirable in the national interests. This is the principle which guides the Press of New Zealand and 1 would be sorry to believe that the principle had ceased to weigh with both proprietors and editors.” Mr Burns then moved the adoption of the report and the annual statement of accounts.