Obituary: Ray Smith, CBE, OBE (Milit.).

Ray Smith

* Ray Smith, CBE, OBE (Milit.). Newspaper publisher. Died aged 85.

Ray Smith's career in newspapers began with his appointment as advertising manager at the Rotorua Morning Post, now the Daily Post. The invitation to take up the position arrived while Smith was homeward bound from World War II on a troop ship carrying 300 Italian war brides.

He went on to lead the Daily Post for almost 50 years. During that time, the company, United Printing and Publishing, extended its interests to include newspapers in Levin, Wanganui, Napier, Hastings and Wellington.

Smith was active in the publishing industry on a national level as well. He was a member of the Newspaper Publishers' Association, and was elected president in 1982, the first time a person from other than the four main centres had achieved this. He held that position for 11 years, and also served on the board of the New Zealand Press Association, in later years becoming its chairman.

In 1964 Smith and publisher Rex Lucas from Nelson introduced web-offset printing to New Zealand and in 1978, Smith chaired a committee that oversaw computerisation at NZPA.

When Wilson & Horton, then publishers of the Herald, bought Smith's Rotorua company, he accepted a seat on the board and served for nine years.

The Army was Smith's other great interest. He was the Hauraki Regiment's commanding officer from 1955 to 1960, and took the honorary rank of Colonel in 1963.

He was made a military OBE in 1958 and a CBE for services to the newspaper industry in 1992. He is survived by his wife Mary, sons Keith and Robert, and their families.