JOURNALISTS' INSTITUTE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1838, 26 August 1913, Page 6

JOURNALISTS' INSTITUTE.

i: The annual meeting of the Wellington brandli of the New Zealand Institute of Journalists was held yesterday aftermoon, Mr. F. J. Earle presiding. In Moving the adoption of the annual report; ; the chairman referred to tho. matter of obtaining standard conditions in respect to employment on country journals. He remarked that tho chairman of the country section of tho Newspaper Proprietors' Association had been communicated with, and thero'had been correspondence with a viow to arranging a conference.

The report stated that the past year had been one of the busiest experienced in the 'history of the branch. Shortly after tho committee took office, :it opened negotiations for a working 'agreement with the proprietors of the three daily papers in Wellington, and . 'though all that was sought was not obtained' a standard was sot. This having heen'done, it was desired to .bring about somo improvement in the country. Proposals were drafted, circulated, and amended in accordance with suggestions, but a difficulty had been experienced in obtaining from country members that ■information as to present conditions 'which 'it was necessary, that the" officers ■should have beforo' approaching the Proprietors. With such information as ■iad been obtained, however, it was decided to proceed, and the matter was 'placed in the hands of the New Zealand Council, which had been in communication mirth the president of tho Country Committee of the. Proprietors' Association. Tho report also dealt with tho 'question of establishing a. Press Club, and urged tho incoming committee to ■ give attention to that matter. The roll iaiumber of tho local branch now stands ■at about 130 members. In conclusion, (the report mentioned with regret tho «Teath of two journalists well known ■throughout the district—Mr. P. Robertson. of Auckland, and Mr. F. Godfrey, of tho "Tribune, Napier. After some discussion tho report was adopted, and sovoral other matters were dealt with. The meeting then adjourned: until Mondto.