32 The Newspaper IVofld, been afforded an example of the necessity of some organ- ization when public bodies had to be approached, as in the case of the Board of Trade in 1883-4, to which an important protest had to be made to secure for journalists engaged as shorthand writers in the Bankruptcy Courts throughout the country, proper remuneration for their labor. For that occasion a Conference of Metropolitan and Provincial Shorthand Writers was formed — thanks, in a large measure, to the labors of Mr G. F. Gratwicke, of Exeter, (afterwards elected a Vice-President of the Insti- tute,) — which was successful in obtaining a new rule giving shorthand writers the right to the same terms as before the new Act. Through the minutes of the Manchester Press Club may be traced the steps which led to the establishment of the first organization of working journalists in this country for professional purposes. In March, 1 881, at the monthly meeting of the Club, Mr Tipping, a member, read a paper on " The Position and Prospects of Pressmen." A dis- cussion arose out of this as to the desirability of organizing a National Association of Pressmen, and the matter was discussed at several meetings in 188 1-2 and committees appointed, without, however, any very definite result. But in March, 1884, a committee was appointed to take prompt and energetic measures for the establishment of a league or association of reporters, sub-editors, and others engaged on the Press of this country. In August of the same year this committee reported, with the result that a conference of journalists from various parts of the kingdom was convened at Birmingham 25th October, r884, when the National Association of Journalists was established, and Mr H. Flint (president of the Manchester Press Club), was appointed its first president. Five years later the Association was converted into an Institute, and its objects set forth to be to secure the advancement of
