EMPIRE PRESS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 February 1939, Page 5

EMPIRE PRESS

THE COMING CONFERENCE IN LONDON RELATIONS WITH GOVERNMENTS TO BE DISCUSSED. IMPORTANCE OF UPHOLDING FREEDOM. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, February 15. Major J. J. Astor, presiding at the annual meeting of the Empire Press Union in London today, announced that the theme of the discussions at the annual conference in June is to be the relationship between the Governments and the Press of the Empire. Overseas sections of the union were already engaged in preparing papers on the various headings under which the subject is to be divided, and a number of authoritative speakers have already consented to take part. This would be the first time that the Empire Press had attempted a comprehensive review of its own position in the life and structure of the Empire, said Major Astor. “At a time when part of the world must almost have forgotten what a free Press is,” added Major Astor, “it may be opportune to remind ourselves and others of the part which the Press plays in maintaining the cohesion of an empire in which foreign countries seem able to take a considerable interest.”