PRESS ASSOCIATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 February 1919, Page 5

PRESS ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. At the annual meeting of the Press Association to-day the following were present: Messrs P. Selig, acting-chair-man (Christchurch Press), G. Fenwick (Otago Dailv Times), F. Pirani (Feilding Star), H. Horton (N.Z. Herald), L. Blundell (Evening Post), C. S. Smoth (Evening Star, Dunedin), W. C. Whitlock (Hawkes Bay Tribune), A. E. Copping (Stratford Post), J. Coombe (Manawatu Standard), W. Dinwiddie (Hawkes Bay Herald), W. C. Weston (Taranaki Herald), Robert Bell (Lyttelton Times), Hon. W. J. Geddis (New Zealand Times), W. R. Kettle (Greymouth Evening Star),W. Atkin (Westport News), George Worth (Wanganui Chronicle), Hugh W. Crawford (Northern Advocate), Thomas C. List (Taranaki Daily News), R. P. Furness (Marlborough Express), Cuthbert East (Timaru Post), C. H. Walker (Hawera Star), R. J. Gilmour (Southland Times), A. McNicol (Dannevirke News), P. Bond (Nelson Colonist), H. V. Duigan (Wanganui Herald), A. A. Lucas (Nelson Evening Mail), E. G. Kerr (Timaru Herald and Oamaru Times), E. Abbey Jones (Southland Daily News), A. L. Muir (Poverty Bay Herald), E. C. Huie (Christchurch Sun). The annual report congratulated shareholders on at last being able to meet free from the shadow of war. The absence of the chairman (Hon. G. Carson) through illness was deplored, also the death of Mr. Dinwiddie, of the Napier Herald, a very old member of the association. The number of original words of cable supplied during the year was stated at 800,727, which, in respect of amount of international news, was a record. In October last 90,332 words were supplied, which is a record for a single month. Reference was made to the probable renewal of the cable contract with the Australian Cable Association, which was understood to be practically arranged at a satisfactory price. The report also alluded to phenomenal interruptions of telegraphic communication by snow and thunder storms, and the dislocation of work during the epidemic. The Telegraph Department was warmly complimented on the way it hud carried out its work under the worst conditions ever experienced, and the directors stated they had specially conveyed the thanks of the association to the department. Exception was taken to the action of the Government in interfering with and preventing the publication of the signing of the armistice till long after it was known in other parts of ihe world.

The report and balance-sheet were adopted without discussion.

Messrs G. Fenwick and C. S. Smith were re-elected directors without opposition. Akaroa was selected as the next place of meeting. The following resolution was passed: ''That members of the United Press Association express strong resentment at the unwarrantable action of the Government in retaining the association's cable news of the signing of the armistice, received on November 11, until the neat day, and, after having done this, in not taking precautions to prevent the news leaking out." A resolution was passed expressing regret and sympathy with the Hon. G. Carson in his illness and enforced absence from the meeting.

A hearty vote of thanks was passed to the staff for their work during a peculiarly harassing and difficult year. EMPIRE PRESS UNION MEETING. The New Zealand branch of the Empire Press Union meeting was also held this afternoon, there being twenty present, Mr. Fenwick presiding. The report and balance-sheet were adopted after a little discussion. A resolution was passed agreeing to raise the subscription to the parent union to £5, instead of £3, per full member. The proprietor of the Mercantile Gazette was elected a member. The chairman and present committee were xe-electsd,