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EMPIRE PRESS UNION

4 — ANNUAL MEETING OF NEW ZEALAND BRANCH IMPORTANCE OF WIRELESS The importance of maintaining throughout the Empire the best facilities possible for the publication of news and intelligence was again emphasised at the annual meeting of the Empire Press Union (New Zealand branch) which was held yesterday. There were present: Sir George Fenwick (chairman), Messrs. H. Horton, W. Cecil Levs, G. C. Codlin, A. M. Burns, R. Bell, R. P. Bell, R. I’. Furness, E. G. Kerr, P. Bond, A. A. Lucas, P. Selig, A. L. Muir, J. Coombe, R. 11. Bissett, S. C. Smith, T. L. Mills, E. C. Huie, W. C. Weston, S. R. Evison, W. 11. Alack, A. G. Henderson, A. McNicoll, —. Wright, and Mesdames Page and I’irani. The report of the committee said that attention during the past year was largely centred on the great strides made by wireless, and especially on the “beam” system, which had been instituted between Britain and Australia, and between Britain and Canada. In New Zealand the principal matter of interest affecting members of the branch had been the advance in wireless affairs. Several of the leading newspaper offices in the Dominion had installed receiving sets, the value of which had been demonstrated in the early receipt of sporting and other news. Interesting items of news from overseas had also been received, and in accordance with the cable agreement with the Press Association had been placed at the disposal of its subscribers for publication.

The balance-sheet showed a credit balance of £B9 18s. lid. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. In his presidential address Sir George Fenwick said the Press of New Zealand was just as deeply interested in the rapid transmission of the daily news of the world as were the newspapers of Great Britain and other parts of the. Empire, and the efforts of the council of the Empire Press Union to secure this and to obtain reduced cable charges and increased wireless facilities had been unrelaxing and gratifyingly successful. Especially in respect to wireless had the union displayed unceasing watchfulness and practical energy. It was not claimed that this new channel of communication had reached the stage when it was a serious rival to the old-established cable system, but it was hoped by the council of the union that notwithstanding uncertainty of transmission, the establishment of the “beam” services between the United Kingdom and Canada and Australia respectively was an augury that wireless telegraphy would eventually bring the Empire into closer inter-communication. Wireless equipment in the offices of New Zealand newspapers had not yet become general, but it was only a matter of time when it would be so, and this had been recognised by the directors of the United Press Association, who, in consultation with the association’s lawyers, had given great attention to this important question on the renewal of the overseas news agreements with its subscribers. The cost of wireless transmission was still higher than was considered practicable for even an auxiliary news service between Great Britain and her Dominions. Meantime a start with wireless had been made by the Imperial Government in the regular official messages which came under the dispatch heading of Rugby. These had formed a reliable and much appreciated addition to the cable services, without having added to the burdensome cost of the latter.

It had been pointed out by the council of the union that speed and the cost of transmission of Press messages were the two vital factors, and that especially within the British Empire the recording and interpretation of world events should be available with the -least possible delay. The important bearing of this on the welfare of the Empire was becoming more and more recognised by far-seeing men in all walks of life. New Zealand could justly claim that in its own particular newspaper Press it had an institution winch it could look upon with pride, and its members, among the agencies, which had led to its advance to the high position it had attained in public life, might look with satisfaction on its fine cable service and its active connection with so powerful and alert a body as the Empire Press Union.

In conclusion, Sir George Fenwick said he had now occupied the- position of chairman for over 18 years, and he had fully decided to ask that some other member of the committee should be elected to the position at that meeting. He had been persuaded, however, by some of his colleagues on the committee to continue in office for another year on the understanding that at next annual meeting he should be allowed to retire. On the motion of Air. I’. Selig, seconded by Air. H. Horton, Sir George Fenwick was unanimously .e-elected chairman for the ensuing year. The committee was re-elected as follows:—Messrs. 11. Horton, W. Cecil Leys, L. Blundell, P. Selig, W. C. Weston, C. W. Earle, C.M.G., C. S. Smith, J. Coombe, A. AlcNicoll, and R. J. Gilmour. Air. \V. Dow was re-elected secretary and Air. W. Easton auditor.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19280223.2.112

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 124, 23 February 1928, Page 12

Word count
Tapeke kupu
840

EMPIRE PRESS UNION Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 124, 23 February 1928, Page 12

EMPIRE PRESS UNION Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 124, 23 February 1928, Page 12

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