EMPIRE PRESS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 46, 24 February 1930, Page 7

EMPIRE PRESS

COMING CONFERENCE

LATE SIR GEORGE FENWICK

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) ' TIMAKTJ, 22nd February. The twentieth annual meeting of the New Zealand section of the Empire Press Union' was held at the Hermitage, Mt. Cook, on Friday night. Those present were Messrs. C. W. Earle, C.M.G. (president), H. Horton, A. A. Lucas, P. Sclig, W. J. Blundell, A. L. Muir, H. W. Crawford, P. Bond, E. G. Kerr, F. A. Clarke, E. A.' Blundell, T. Getfdes, L. J. Berry, W. Easton, W. C. Weston, L. P. Blundell, W. H. Ataek, X, Fui-ness^G. C. Codlin, T. C. List, A. M. Burns, R. B. Bell, J. Coombe, E. C. Huie, F. W. Petterd, C. S. Smith, G. R. Evisou and W. F. Bissett. Mr. Earle, in moving .the adoption of the annual report and balance-sheet, referred to the'lamented death of their late, chairman, Sir George Fenwick, who had been the guiding spirit of the New Zealand section of the union since its inception in 1910. Without the groat interest and enthusiasm displayed in the activities of, the union by Sir George Fen wick the New Zealand section would never have reached the high position it had no.w attained. Mr. Earle stated that at a meeting of the executive held ,in Wellington a resolution had been passed recording the sincere sympathy of the members of the union with his family. In concluding his remarks, the chairman, said that the principal work p of the executive during the year had been the selection of delegates'to represent the Dominion at the fourth Imperial Conference, in London in June, 1930. He said that those members who had been selected would, he' felt sure, bo a credit to the newspapers of the Dominion. » .•■ , • . ' • '- Mr. H. Horton (Auckland), in seconding the motion, said in his recent trip home he had met .-many Pressmen who had expressed regret at the-death of 'their old comrade Sir George Fenwick, who not only had belonged to New Zealand, ■ but also, was regarded as an outstanding newspaper man in all, parts of the Empire. He knew by; personal contact that.the regret ex- . pressed by members in other countries was as sincere as that of members of the union-in New Zealand. Bespeeting the forthcoming conference in London this year, Mr. Horton'! said that Homo members were doing everything within their power to make the trip interesting and instructive, and in' Major J. J. Astor the union were fortunate in securing as chairman a worthy successor to Lord Burnhain. Mr. P. Selig also expressed personal regret at the decease 'of his old ■friend Sir George Fenwick. The adoption of the report and bal-lanee-sheet was carried. Messrs. K. Furness (Blenheim), T. C. List (New Plymouth), A. L. Muir (Gisborne), and P. Solig (Christchurch) were elected to full membership, and Mr. Trevor Geddes, of the "Daily Telegraph" (Napier), as an associate member. . . Tr In proposing the election of Mr. H.. Horton as chairman, Mr. P. Selig said he knew of no other newspaper proprietor so well qualified to succeed the late Sir George Fenwick, His prominence in the- Dominion'and his close association with members of the union throughout the Empire, combined with, his keen interest in the work, would be of advantage to the, union as a whole and to New Zealand branches in particular. ' ■ ■ ' . The following office-bearers were elected:—Chairman, ';Mr.;-H. Horton; executive, Messrs. W. Cecil Leys, L. P. Blundell, P. Selig, W. C. Western, 0. W. Earle, J. Coombe, A. MeNichol, K. J. for his services as acting-chairman in. the interim since the death of Sir George Fenwick was passed. 'Eulogistic references were made to theservices of Mr. W. Sow, who wat retiring from the secretaryship after 19 years' service. .