THE CORRECTORS OF THE PRESS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8115, 21 May 1906, Page 4

THE CORRECTORS OF THE PRESS.

(London "Times." March 5, 100 G.) Tho 1/oiidon Association of Correctors of iho Press held its Kill annual dinner on Saturday night, March ;J, in tho Troeadero Restaurant. Lord Montagu of lioaulieu presided, and theconipmiy included, besides the speakers, Sir Richard Temple, Sir W. Treacher, Professor Hubert Von Herliomer. Lulonel G. Earch Übm'i'h, Mr. G, W. Forrest, ('.l. E., Mr. E. E. lieuson, Mr. C. Harmsworth, M.P., Mr. \Y. G. Rushbrooks, Dr. Hermann Gollancz, Rev. G. Margolionth, Major Vane Stow, Professor: A. M. Mayo Robson. Dr. T. Miller Maguire, Air. F. H. Skrine, Mr. T. Seecombe, Mr. l(. A. Austen Leigh, and Mr. Edgar Harrison.

The Chairman read .i letter of regret from Mr. Balfour, who said he would have much liked to give personal expression of his sympathy with the members of that important body, the London Correctors or the Press, whose labours were invaluable alike to authors and to readers.

Tin lcyal tonsts having been duly "i.d. Mr. Fabian Ware proposed "jlouses of* Parliament. Lord IVdinroiigh and Mr. J. W. Cleland, M.l' , responded. Sir John Cockiiurn proposed "The [mporial Forces." Admiral the Hon. Sir E R. Fromantle responded for the N-ivv. and said there used to ho preiii in lliu Xavy against "writitig officers." but the present naval writer »• ns an efficient man: and Major-Gen-eral Sir A. Turner responded for the land forces. Mr. R. Warwick then proposed "Literature," Mr. Owen Seaman, editor of "T'uueh." in his reply, said that the tr.id I on a I compliments paid to corree :rs of Ihc Press on such occasions took the curious form of quoting those rare and obsoure instances in which Correctors had lapsed from the path of accuracy. There was an old and probably untrue story {hat in fhe first issue' of a certain distinguished gazette the editor was made—by a corrector—to «nv that li s policy would be "to call a spado n spate." From such a beginning as that the process of deviation from accuracy might be expected to go oil till a. thing was.described as a twin nnlo:;.ic:d inexactitude which the writtM* knew to he a d d lie! (Cheers and laughter.) Quite peculiar duties were imposed on the "reader" of "Punch." He must have high qualities : of head and heart. He must cover, the whok\ ground of universal knowledge, and be at any moment prepared to .see a joke should it occur. (Laughter.)' The- nature- of a certain class of joke—of which, however, he did not approve—depended on " tho abuso of the ordinary laws of orthography. In such a ease, a 111 tie learning might spoil a gi'iid thing. If. for instapco, lie wire to describe a policeman, with rulilier things on (he !<otti>m of his boots, as having no music in hi? sole, ho would bo somewhat irritate! if tilt "reader" corrected tho observation so as to deny the constable's capacity to appreciate, say, tho poetry of •the » Laureate. (Laughter.) As "Puiieh"\ professed to be the corrector of tlib rest of the Press, he must not 'lay himself open to tho reply, "Remove tho liuinp from youi y,vu back." For tliis reason also' ii.s "reader" must have Jiuito extraordinary qual ties. Mr: G. Clicsteiton a.so responded.

The Chairman nu\t proposud "The L.A.O.P. and' the IViiiiun Kunils," whose work he Tory highl) commended. Sic, J. v Randall, ih.iii m:: 11 oi' the

Association; responded, and -TiciiiiDWledged subscriptions ami donations amounting to £lB5. Slik SV. A. Perkins, ill proposing

"Tlici Visitors." oxprc K?ol a winli tlial the J,nndmi County C'umieil school' WOIII4 supply boys capable of reading their'own language ill plain print. Tha Hon. C. S. Rolls having briefly spoken, Dr. SV. Garnet t. chief. educational adTiser of the London County Council, also replied. None were morecapablo than the members of that Ac sociation, he said, tf advi-ing tl.t Council how to make tlv3 schools men useful. Ho also acknowledged the high standard of professional morality ;>.c tnating correctors of the Pre*, whem lie had never heard accused of betraying the secrets necessarily -cposed in tjhein in connection with the printing of examination papers and other doc raeuts.