All But Two Of Paper’s Staff In Positions

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30121, 3 May 1963, Page 12

All But Two Of Paper’s Staff In Positions

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, May 2.

In a statement today, Mr E. G. Guy, managing director of the United Publishing Company, Ltd., said he was pleased to announce that with two exceptions, the whole of the “Manawatu Times" staff had been placed in or offered, positions. Commenting on criticism of the method of closing the newspaper, Mr Guy said there was no other known way of ceasing the publication of a daily newspaper There had been many instances in New Zealand, the last major one being the

“Southern Cross,” Wellington, and before that the Hawke’s Bay “Daily Mail." the Auckland “Sun” and many others. The reason for this method was that if staff were given longer notice of the intention to close, they would be expected to work out the period of notice

It was more sensible to pay them in cash in advance for any notice required, and any benefits due. This was done in the case of the “Times” staff.

"Special arrangements were made to give the placing of staff first consideration Executives and directors of the companies concerned, and associates. were at work early on Saturday morning (the day of the closing) interviewing staff, and this continued during Sunday

“Bv Monday 32 of a staff of 67 (not 100 as reported) were offered alternative employment by the two companies. Bv the end of the week, almost every staff member who wanted employment had received offers of it.

"The secretary of the Wel-

lington Printing Trades’ Union co-operated in this effort,” said Mr Guy. “Special attention was paid to placing the eight apprentices affected, and all have obtained suitable alternative employers.

“A statement that the Printing Trades’ Union had beei. refused accommodation for a meeting at the ‘Times’ is not true.

“During Sunday afternoon, the directors met a representative group of the Journalists’ Union."

Mr Guv said nobody regretted the closing more than the directors. They had hoped that Palmerston North was one of the few provincial centres in New Zealand capable of supporting two daily newspapers

They had spent many thousands )f pounds in bulding a new model publishing office, probably the best of its kind in New Zealand

In spite of this, the people of Palmerston North were not prepared to support it adequately with advertising and subscriptions. As a consequence the "Times’ had been losing money at the rate of £lOOO a month for the last 15 months.