PRESS DELEGATES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 224, 10 June 1918, Page 6

PRESS DELEGATES

TO VISIT BRITAIN AND FRANCE The Acting-Prime Minister received on Saturday a cable message for which ho had been waiting before announcing the names of the Press delegates to go to England shortly as guests of tiio Ministry of Intor.mnl.ion. Tho invitation was given originally to five New Zealand representatives, but it becamo desirable to send six, and this was agreed to by cablegram on Saturday.. Following aro tho delegates who will go:-

Mr. Charles W. Earle, editor and managing director of The Dominion.

Mr. G. Fenwick, mannging director of the "Otago Daily Times" Company. The Hon. W. J. Geddis, M.L.C., editor and managing director of tho "New Zealand Times." •

Mr. E. M. Hacker, editor of tho "New Zealand Herald."

Mr. P. Piraui (Feilding "Star"), chairman of the provincial section of the Newspaper Proprietors' Association. Mr. M. L. Reading, editor of tho "Lyttelton Times."

Mr. P. Selig, chairman of tho Newspaper Proprietors' Association, was amongst those nominated, but stated that lie could not accept owing to pressuro of business. Several other representatives of leading newspapers wrote stating that they could not leave New Zealand at the prescci juncture for the same reason. Mr. L. Blundoll, of the "Evening Post," was nmong those originally nominated by the Newspaper Proprietors' Association, but could not leave for private reasons. The invitation was conveyed in tho following cable message, received by Sir James Allen from the High Commissioner, Sir Thomas Mackenzie-.— "Ministry of Information invites a mission of five editors or owners of the Press of Now Zealand to visit Great Britain and tho Western front as guests of tho Ministry. They state selection left entirely in my (our) hands, by which I take it they mean tho New Zealand Government. They particularly desire that mission bo composed of men belonging to highest standing in Now Zealand newspaper profession, and that if prac-ticable-all sections be represented. Trip in Great Britain and Prance will occupy a period of four weeks. Suggested that they leave at once. Ministry will pay all expenses., Plens'e inform me as soon as possiblo wliat arrangements rnnde mid names of those constituting mission." Sir James Allen referred the matter to the Newspaper Proprietors' Association's executive, which made recommendations to tho Government. After some Ministerial discussion it was decided to increase the delegation from five members to six'.

On Saturday night members of the literary department of Tub .Dominion and heads of other departments assembled at the Empire Hotel, at the invitation of the Board of Directors, to «ay good-byo to the editor, Mr. C. W. Earle, who is leaving for Jinghnd as a member of the Press delegation. Mr. J. Macintosh, chairman of the Board of Directors, presided. There was a full gathering and an excellent dinner was provided, tasteful arrangement for which nad been made by Mr. Dwyer, licensee of the Empire Hotel. , > Mr. Macintosh proposed • Mr. Earle s health. He referred to the high position attained by the editor of The Dominion in the profession of journalism, and on behalf of the directors and the staff wished Mr. Earlo a successful journay and a safe return. , Mr. Earle, in reply, said that he did not feel ho was leaving on- a mere pleasure trip. The journalists who had ken asked to visit England and the West front as the guests of the Imperial Government had a very important duty to perform. He reaped that in accepting an opportunity to learn something of the war from the inside and to gaugo the extent of tho task confronting the Empire ho was carrying a serious responsibility. ' .... , Mr C. Weston, chief sub-editor, made a presentation to Mr. Earle on behalf of the. staff. Ho assured the editor of tho determination of the staff to cany on" loyally during their chiefs .absence. The partv was cv.tertained subsequently by Mr. M'alini, who did miraculous things with cards and glasses, and completely mystified the newspaper men His final 'feat was to place a, coin under a borrowed hat and change it into a large paper-bag of sugar, intended to.coinfort Mr." Earlo when he got amoog the food restrictions and meal tickets.