EMPIRE PRESS UNION

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 127, 22 February 1921, Page 6

EMPIRE PRESS UNION

ANNUAL MEETING OF NEW ZEALAND BRANCH “ BUILDING UP THE EMPIRE ” Sir George Fenwick presided at the annual meeting of the New Zealand branch of tho Empire Press Union, held in the Wellington Chamlier of Commerce yesterday afternoon. The Press of the Dominion, from Auckland to Invercargill, was thoroughly represented. Mr. "Walter Jones was appointed a member of the union in place of his father, the late Hon. George Jones, of tho "Southland Tinies” and "Oaniaru Mail.” Other members elected were: Messrs. W. F. Alexander and J. S. Ash (Dunedin "Star”), and Dr. G. 11. Scholefield (Wairarapa "Age"). Mr. A. Lowry (sub-editor of the “Otago Daily Times”) was mado an associate member. The Chairman's Remarks. In (moving the adoption of the annual repo/t and balance-sheet the chairman said that he was’very glad to welcome to see so many present. The most noteworthy event of the year in connection with Empire Press matters, ho stated, was the second general conference of members of the Empire Press Union, held at Ottawa in August last. It was a great gathering of journalists, representing every part of tho Empire, and worthily upheld the interest and high anticipations of usefulness to the Press and to the British Commonwealth evoked at the brilliant and memorable assemblage of Empire editors and proprietors when the union was founded in 1909. Justr'as the 1909 gathering would for ever live in the memories of those privileged to be present and to enjoy transient association with many of the great political leaders of that day, as well as with tho leading lights of the newspaper world, so would the Canadian conference be treasured in memory by those who had the good fortune to attend it. The speeches at the conference were of a high order, he said, referririg paiticularly to the lofty thoughts and fine deliverance of such men as Lord Burnham, Mr. Robert Donald, Dr. Ellis T. Powell-("Financial News”), and Sir Robert Bruce (Glasgow "Herald”). The same applied to the speeches delivered by Mr. Arthur Meighen (Prime Minister of Canada), the Governor-General (the Duke of Devonshire), and Sir George Foster (Minister for Trade and Commerce) at the banquet given by the Government to the delegates. Emphasising liow vitally important it was that the controllers of the newspaper Press should be men of character with a profound regard for truth in all ihey wrote, the Canadian Prime Minister declared that "the man behind the pen is the most powerful man on earth.” The man behind the pen had more to do with the creation of public opinion than all other factors put together-re-stating, re-shaping and re-emphasising the truth, as he did, for ever. This fact, added Sir George Fenwick, rendered it of supreme importance to . the well-being ot the Empire that the fine ideals, which fortunately animated all but a very small section of the Press, should be fostered and solidified by bringing its members together P«" o “' ically in order that they flight take counsel of each other, and still further do what in them lay to guide our Empi re movements into right channels. It could not be too often nor too insistently urged that, no matter how humble the position a newspaper might occupy, no matter how limited its readers, it still played its proportionate share in the nation’s and the Empire’s social and economic fife. It was this consideration which had weighed! with him, since the very inception of the Empire Hess Union, in this important or ° sation his wholehearted support and doin<r all he could to extend its membetship in New Zealand. He felt similar views must have impressed themselves on the minds of all the New Zealand delegates to the Canadian Conference They should all feel it an honour to belong to the virile union, whose main concern was not to look closely after the interests of its members, but the nobler ideal of serving those national interests on which future welfare of our ■neonle, and which-, after all, affected the happiness and prosperity of each one ot them in his individual capacity. As Mr. Robert Donald (chairman ot tho Empire Press Union) had well p it-"At the meeting of the second Imperial Press Conference, as on the occasion of the first the editors will not confine their attention to their own professional interests. They will give statesmen a lead in the solution of neu and trvin" problems which .now confront thorn. 0 The war has created new prospeciivps It has broadened democracy , it iT-iven a new status to the self-govern-ing Dominions, which have now entered clitics The Supreme Council ol n a position"to interpret the whhe” the hopes, the aspirations of millions of citizens. They are abl <rive a lead to statesmen and guide public opinion wisely on all the vital problems affecting the progress and welfare of the British people, however far apar ?Ly may be, or under whatever form ot government they may live. While that a9 t^^e on o^le a union ’ ? o PP the~n, said Sir George Fenwick, matters directly affecting the cam mg on of newspaper businesses had also been taken up by the Council of the Hn?on Among these he mentioned th Ta'luabt work done by the eounei in reducing the cable rates by about one-ha f as a result of its continuous presiire' upon Governments and upon the cable companies, the latter of whom were probably impressed by the union s advocacy of supplementary cables to be owned and controlled by the State. Th cable rate between Australia and New Zealand, for example, had been from 9d. to 7d. per word, thus substantially benefiting New Zealand papc■ s. In 1912 too, the British Parliamtnt had at the instance of the union, passed an Act establishing a uniform rate of postage for newspapers circulating within the Empire; while the council had obtained for the London correspondents of overseas journals the privilege of admission to the House of Commons, and had secured their recognition by the Colonial Office and other Government Departments, thus entitling them to information for their papers which had previously been unobtainable by them B'lt, as Mr. Donald pointed out: "Its chief success, its most enduring work had been in the creation of a new spirit of brotherhood between newspaper men New personal ties have been formed in all parts of the Empire, bringing men of influence into greater intimaev and closer friendship. Ihe union has aimed at focusing more clocnlv the immense influence of the Press' to help in harmonising the common interests, and -n fostering the common ideal, of all people who live under the British flag.” T' e New Zealand delegates to the conference had interviewed Sir George Fisher (Canadian Minister of Customs), representing to him tho serious shortage of newsprint paper in this country, lhe Minister had received them very sympathetically and promised to exercise such influence as he could to secure that there should bo a more equitable distribution of the Canadian output. Since then supplies of Canadian paper for New Zealand had been .sufficient for the Dominion’s requirements, but users of this important necessary in the dnilj lite of the people had still to pay Canad’.a manufacturers a high price tor the product of their mills, under contracts made i for the whole of the present year «ir George Fenwick'made synipathef ic | reference to the losses that tho I had sustained during the year by the I deaths of the Hon. Goorge Jones, M.L.C. i

(Oamaru), Mr. Henry AVeston (New Pljmouth), and Mr. A. W. Parkinson (Hawera). On behalf of the branch he heartily congratulated Mr. T. M. Leys (chairman of tho New Zealand delegates to the conference) upon having conferred upon him the hon. degree of LL.D, by the M'Gill University. Referring to the visit of the Prince of Wales to the Dominion, he stated that the Prince desired to have conveyed to the Press of New Zealand his appreciation of the manner in which it had shared m the wonderful welcome accorded to him throughout the Dominion, and his pleasure at recognising in the Press of New Zealand a close counterpart to the 1 ress of the Old Country. (Applause.) Speeches by Other Delegates.

Mr. P. Selig seconded the motion. In doing so he said that: he was fortunate enough to be a member of the delegation to Britain, and, after meeting with officials and meinbei-s of the Press Union, ho could testify to the power of that body. The union was not only playing an important part in the building up of the Empire from a newspaper point of view but was doing work m London that must, be appreciated by its branches overseas. Mr. rielig related his experiences m England, on the trip to Sydney Scotia), and ini Canada itself. the passage across was made in a steamer especially fitted with a wireloss telephone, and they were able to,sit at ease on a splendid loungo and listen to concerts being given 1200 miles away. At Sydney (Nova. Scotia) the func ions and entertainments commenced, and ironi that point were continuous for the whole of the time they were in the great Dominion. The newspapers of Canada did their part, too, and did not tail to take every advantage of the presence of so manv representative pressmen from all parts 'of the Empire to boost their country. The delegates were treated with the most lavish hospitality everywhere. They were invited to speak at various places along the route. e srould like to acknowledge the b ieat kindness meted out to himself and other delegates by Lord Burnham and the officials of the Empire I’ress Union He noticed since ho came back that th.. union had been approaching the Government on the matter of cables, and whatever received the backing ot Loid Bumham and men of his type, must have duo effect with the P oW ? r \ th ,?K Mr 11. Horton (Auckland Heiald ) remarked on how well they were treated bv Lord Burnham and the Bmpne Press Union people in London The Canadians too, did their utmost to meet them’with every hospitality, rhesemen in Canada were of the best type vol} earnest, and very sincere-and they were men who were going to do-indecd had already done— big things tor journalism in Canada. lie .intended to be present at the next conference that was to he held in Sydnev three and a half years hence. M Lord Burnham and men of his calibre were coming out, it was going to be a big thing, and as a to ir of New Zealand was contemplated, he did not think it was too early to make a start with their arrangements Mr. Abbey Jones (Invercargill) also snoke of tho hospitality they had leXed hi Canada. Whilst he was impressed with the great men they had P met and what they were doing for journalism, what impressed him most was the fine tone of Imperialism they struck everywhere. _ Tho chairman, in referring to, co fercnees generally, said In- , no " every alternate conference should be held In England. He had written to Lord Burnham on the point. ■ Mr. IlorJon |said be had put; the same argument to lot<l P urn "™ T® 1 ’ sdnallv, and he had replied that they should have two conferences abroad and one at Home. . . , Mr. Selig said that if Australasia had anv idea of competing with Canada they should give it up, for they could not hope to return the same degree of hosP Mr A. Jones said they might not be able-to return hospitality on the same scale, but the visitors would be treated to the most lavish display; of beautiful scenery they had over scon in their lives. The report was adopted. Election of Officers.

Tho following were elected officers bf the New Zealand branch:—Chairman. Sir George Fenwick: committee. Messrs. C. AV. Earle. TT. Horton. L. P- Blundell AV C AA'cston. P. Selig. -I- Coombes. A. M'Nienl. U. Brett. R. J. Gilmour; auditor, Mr. AV. Easton (Dunedin); secretary, Mr. AVilliam Dow (Dunedin).