"Competition in papers"

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32798, 24 December 1971, Page 2

"Competition in papers"

-Y.N.Z Press 4><ociatio<i> WELLINGTON, Dec. 23. In Britain, provincial cities the size of Auckland and Wellington no longer had more than on daily newspaper, and it Sras refreshing to see tws-paper competition continuing in New Zealand, said the chairman oC Reuters (Mr W. D. Bgpnetson), in Wellington today.

After a week in New Zealand,' Mr and Mrs Bametson will leave for Sydney on Sat-

urday on their way to Hong Kong and Bangkok. In British provincial cities little newspaper competition remained. Indeed, only Glasgow had more than one evening newspaper, said Mr Bametson.

One newspaper in the morning and one in the evening in New Zealand cities might not seem to be complete competition, but it was more than comparable with centres in Britain.

The use made in New Zealand of Reuter’s service, and the performance of the New Zealand Press Association in the partnership gave him great satisfaction, said. Mr Barnetson.

As chairman of the United Newspapers group, Mr Barnetson has been studying radio in Australia and New Zealand.

“We feel that newspapers have something significant to contribute to commercial

radio because of our existing news services and because it has been our job for generations to cater for the com? munity in this way,” he said. There was also an economic factor: the advertising cake was not unlimited, and if some of this must be diverted from the press, the newspaper industry should be ■ able to share part of the diverted revenue.