LORD THOMSON HAS NO COMMENT

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32220, 12 February 1970, Page 7

LORD THOMSON HAS NO COMMENT

(N Z.P.A. Staff Correspondent) LONDON, February 10. Lord Thomson of Fleet, whose desire to acquire an interest in New Zealand daily newspaper publication was thwarted five years ago by Government action, declined to comment today on the Wellington Publishing Company’s plans to take over News Media, Ltd.

He was. said Lord Thomson, no longer interested in the New Zealand daily newspaper scene because it had been made dear |o him that he was not wanted there. At the time Lord Thomson made a bid for the Wellington Publishing Company he became Involved in a battle for control of the company with Mr Rupert Murdoch’s organisation and Wilson and 1 Horton, Ltd. The Government passed the News Media Ownership Aet prohibiting one overseas pen , son from owning more than 15 per cent of the sharehold- ! ing in a newspaper publishing company. Overseas owner-: ship was to be no more than: .(20 per cent. Mr Murdoch had acquired by the time the legislation: was passed a shareholding

greater than that permitted ' under the ad. The extra shares were put. in the hands of the public/ trustee and it was said by] Government spokesmen that they were to be sold before] a stipulated date. The deadline for disposal was subsequently altered and it is believed that Mr Murdoch still owns them. Lord Thomson was questioned about his feelings to-;' ward the fact that he was. shut out of New Zealand by, the act and yet Mr Murdoch! was allowed to retain a great-] er shareholding than that permitted by the law and to be ! involved in an expansion ot the company's interests to other newspapers “1 simply don't want to ; comment,” he replied.