THE PRESS ASSOCIATION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 67, 24 February 1916, Page 3

THE PRESS ASSOCIATION.

CONFERENCE AT ROTORUA. I'EE PRESS ASSOCIATION. Rotorua, February 2-3. The annual meeting of the Press Association was held to-day, Mr L. Blundell presiding. The. annual report, amongst other things, showed that shareholders had increased to 47. Owing to the war the cable service bad greatly increased, and the total words supplied was 837,880, which was an increase of sixty per cent, over that of a few years ago. Unfortunately the- cable routes, owing to blocks and pressure of Government and military work, bad been very congested, and much delay had at times occurred. The report dealt with the recent heavy increase in press telegram rates, and at a later stage the meeting passed a resolution strongly protesting, and determining to bring the matter again before the Postmaster-Gen-eral.

The report also stated that negotiations had been going on for new cable contracts, and two had been made for a fresh term with the Australian Cable Association and Reuter.

Sympathetic reference wa s made to the death of the late Mr E. W. Knowles (Napier), who had long been a director, and 'twice chairman of the Association/

The chairman (Mr Blundell) delivered an address covering the work of the Association from many , points of view, and mentioned that a deputation from the New Zealand Alliance had waited on members asking for support from the. press especially with regard to early .closing and anti-shout-ing, both in the interest of soldiers. 'Fhe deputation had received a sympathetic hearing.

Messrs G. Fenwick, and C. S. Smith were re-elected directors and the next meeting was fixed to bo held at W eliington.