Caucus Against Overseas Control

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30365, 14 February 1964, Page 10

Caucus Against Overseas Control

(From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, February 13. 'fhe Government caucus today declared itself in favour of legislation to prohibit overseas ownership or control of New Zealand newspapers. However, no official announcement of the caucus decision was made.

It is not expected that any announcement will be made unless it appears that any overseas-based bid for the “Dominion” is likely to succeed. Caucus sources reported that the Government would also be prepared to sponsor anti-monopoly legislation this year to facilitate tighter control of the growth of monopolies over the whole ■field of commerce and industry, not merely among newspapers. The Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) said that any action to be taken in respect of newspapers .take-over bids would be left to. the Cabinet and interested parties would be informed before a public announcement was made. Consistent with the Prime Minister’s statement are

reports from the caucus which say that the Government can afford to wait until the reaction of shareholders of the Wellington Publishing Company is known. If the shareholders reject to the Thomson Organisation’s oid, and any other overseas-based take-over bids, the need for emergency Government action will disappear. However, ' principals of overseas companies bidding, or likely to bid for the “Dominion” are likely to be warned by the Government ■that any prospect of a successful bid will immediately be . met with prohibitive legislation. Caucus sources suggest that in' this . way the foreign bidders for the “Dominion” will be “warned off the course.” It is understood there was some difference of opinion among members of the caucus on the need for or desirability of action to oust overseas bidders for New Zealand newspapers, but that a substantial majority finally favoured an “open cheque” for the Cabinet.

.This includes authority to call Parliament together at short notice and to make legislation retrospective in its application, if this became necessary. Government sources say they are convinced that the very fact that the Government has . now been empowered by the caucus to enact prohibitive legislation should make its enactment unnecessary and that overseas bids now pending will not be made. The caucus was told that a fourth offer—by New Zealand Newspapers’ Ltd., and the “Melbourne Herald”— would probably be ■ made soon.

Scrub Fire.—A fire in gorse and scrub on property occupied by Mr M. W. Corlet at 30 Nichols road, Baisweil, was put out by firemen from the Sydenham station called at 4.27 p.m. yesterday.