THE PRESS GATHERING.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 44, 21 February 1914, Page 5

THE PRESS GATHERING.

PROCEEDINGS AT NEW PLYMOUTH. The Press Association, Newspaper Proprietors. Umpire Press I nion, and Master Printers’ representatives, who have been spending last week in confeence in New Plymouth, concluded their deliberations last evening, and most of them departed hist night for the north, or left by the mail train this morning. All are unanimously

agreed that no gathering of the Associations lias ever been a more pleasant one, and the hospitality shewn by Taranaki has been very much appreciated. Opportunity was given to see many of the beauty spots in and near Xew Plymouth, and visitors could not help but be greatly delighted. The Mountain House was a source of absolute wonder to those who visited it, while the Pressmen and Printers seemed to find greater delight in the saltwater baths than even the New Plymouth people themselves. Some of those who have more time at their disposal are staying a few days longer, being loath to tear themselves away from this much favored end of New Zealand. EMPIRE PRESS UNION.

The annual meeting of the New Zealand branch of the Empire Press Union was held at New Plymouth yesterday morning, when there were present: Messrs G. Femvick (Otago Daily Times), chairman ; W. H. Atack (manager Press Association), L. Blundell (Wellington Post), A. L. Muir (Poverty bay Herald), H. Horton (Auckland Herald), F. Pirani (Feilding Star), P. Selig (Christchurch Press), S. Smith (Dunedin Star), A. Bell (Ashburton Guardian), E. Abbey Jones (Southland News and Oamaru -Mail), F. E. Hyman (Lyttelton Times), A. A. Lucas (Nelson Mail), R. P. Furness (Marlborough Express), H. Brett (Auckland Star), E. G. Kerr (Tirnaru Herald), A. E. Copping (Stratford Evening Post), Walter C. Weston and W. J. Penn (Taranaki Herald), J. Coombe (Manawatu Standard), and G. Carson (Wanganui Chronicle). Messrs R. J. Gwynne (Waikato Argus) and H. Duigan (Wanganui Herald), were elected associate members. The annual report and balance-sheet were adopted. A resolution was passed to the effect that in the opinion of this crunch the time has arrived when the rule of the Berne Convention that business cables take precedence of press messages should lie relaxed and discretion be allowed to the staff in arranging the order of precedence. On the motion of Mr P. Selig, seconded by Mr H. Horton, it was resolved that the members of the New Zealand branch of the Empire Press Union now assembled at the annual'meeting desire to express their appreciation of the successful efforts ot t.ie parent body in the direction of obtaining the right to post overseas newspapers in England at the same rate of postage as that required for British newspapers, namely, one halfpenny per copy, irrespective of weight.

A vote of ihanks to .the chairman (Mr Fenwick) brought the proceedings to a close. MASTER PRINTERS’ ASSOCIATION The seventh annual meeting of the New Zealand Master Printers’ Industrial Association ol Employers was held in the New Plymouth Council Chambers yesterday morning, and was presided over by the President, Mr W. 0. Somerville (Dunedin).

The following members of the council were present : Messrs D. J. Wright (Auckland), L. T. Watkins (Wellington), G. Jones (Wellington), J. Gamble (Christchurch), J. Cooke (Dunedin), and W. Smith (Invercargill). Delegates from all the branches throughout the Dominion were present. A large amount of business was transacted. The retiring officers were re-elected as follow;—President, Mr G. Somerville (Dunedin); vice-president, Mr W. Smith (Invercargill); council, Messrs •I. Cooke (Dunedin), L. T. Watkins (Wellington), T. Jones (Wellington), J. Gamble (Christchurch), D. J. Wright (Auckland); organising secretary, Mr T. H. Reid; auditor, Air F. Jackson. Eulogistic references were made to the good work performed by the Persldont and council during the past year, and a hearty vote of thanks was accorded them. Votes of thanks were also passed to tiie local printers and newspaper proprietors and the different sports cl uI is for the hospitality extended to them during their stay in New Plymouth, and also to the local Borough Council, for tin' use of its rooms and the public baths.