Newspaper sale defended

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32636, 18 June 1971, Page 3

Newspaper sale defended

(New Zealand Press Association) HAMILTON, June 17. The editorial policy of the “Waikato Times” had in no way been interfered with by the Wellington Publishing Company, the company’s managing director (Mr J. A. Burnet) said in a telephone interview from Wellington today.

Mr Burnet was asked to comment on a claim made by Dr A. M. Finlay in Parliament last night, in support of his Newspaper Ownership Bill. Dr Finlay said the Wellington company had promised that it would not change the editorial policy of the “victim newspaper,” but this promise had lasted only a few weeks. Mr Burnet said this statement was completely irresponsible and incorrect. The company had kept its promise, he said. Mr R. J. Tizard’s statement that the take-over had resulted in staff redundancy was damaging and incorrect, said Mr Burnet. Asked about Dr Finlay’s

comments that dubious tactics had been employed during the take-over, Mr Burnet said he would expect an M.P. to be more specific when statements of this nature were made.

The Wellington Publishing Company had been meticulous in the way in which it had dealt with the merger. It rejected Dr Finlay’s claim. Mr Burnet said Dr Finlay’s comments about the “Dominion” being the dreariest paper in New Zealand were a matter of opinion. But he pointed out the paper from time to time had a duty to report statements made by M.P.s, and for this reason it sometimes contained some dreary reading.