1965 TALK WITH P.M. Lord Thomson Gives Account

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31306, 28 February 1967, Page 3

1965 TALK WITH P.M. Lord Thomson Gives Account

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, February 27. After the passing of the News Media Ownership Act in 1965, Lord Ihomson met the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) in the Savoy Hotel in London and told Mr Holyoake that he well appreciated the political necessity for the Act.

Saying (his in Auckland today, Lord Thomson added that he said to Mr Holyoake something to the effect that “New Zealand newspaper publishers don’t want any competition, for which I don’t blame them, and because they support you, you’ve had to do this to me.”

According to Lord Thomson, Mr Holyoake—“he’s quite an actor you know”—professed to be indignant and pained at anybody attributing such a motive to him. “But, although I waited for it, Mr Holyoake did not seek to tell me of any other motive.” “New Zealand's loss” was how Lord Thomson described the 1964 move that blocked him from buying the Wellington morning newspaper, the “Dominion." "We would have given New Zealanders a better newspaper than anything they have now,” he said. “If we were publishing here, people would be better informed than they are now. “Readers of our newspapers acquire greater 'knowledge. We try to give them material that uplifts their tastes a little.” Lord Thomson said he now

owned 148 newspapers around the world. “I have not got one I am ashamed of.” he said. Lord Thomson said that, except for one sector of his present journey on which an aide had booked him first class, he still travelled even long distances by air in economy class. Asked if Lord Snowdon, a photographer on the “Sunday Times” colour magazine travelled economy like his 72-year-old employer and his workmates. Lord Thomson said: “I don’t know. I suspect he might go first. After all, he deserves some privilege.” Lord Thomson said he

thought there was more sympathy for New Zealand in Britain than for any other Commonwealth country. There was awareness of how proBritish this country was and how much she depended on her British markets. “You must act on the assumption that Britain will be a member of the E.E.C,” he said. “It will take a lot of planning and you will probably be hurt. . .” Lord Thomson said he had no plans to expand his trademagazine interests in New Zealand. “I’d like to enlarge in other directions,” he said. “But I’m sure they would pass a law to stop me."