W. Horton expects growth

Press, 26 July 1984, Page 26

W. Horton expects growth

PA Auckland Wilson and Horton, Ltd, the publisher of the “New Zealand Herald,” was to achieve growth, its chairman, Mr G. R. Brabant, told shareholders at the annual meeting yesterday. He said this was the result of the company’s modernisation programme, the technology conversion of the “New Zealand Herald” and investment in electronic communications for the future. The group’s commercial printing interests were now well placed after plant updating and decentralisation to capitalise on a market well known for its demands of quality and service. Mr Brabant said he was confident that the longterm prospects were secure. Advertising volume placed in the “New Zealand Herald” recently was greater than in any corresponding period, he said. In spite of unemployment, the classified “situations

vacant” section was carrying twice the volume of last year and all classified trading columns were ahead. Mr Brabant said audited paid net daily sales of the “New Zealand Herald,” at 245,600, were almost 112 per cent greater than the next largest metropolitan newspaper in the country. He said the “Herald” obviously played an important role in the financial strength of Wilson and Horton and that strength, in turn, ensured that it was a “quality newspaper” because news gathering was an expensive business. “Financial strength also helps to preserve the ‘Herald’s’ independence from political and outside influences,” Mr Brabant told shareholders. Mr Brabant said one criticism perhaps calling for answer was that the news media was preoccupied with “negative” information, this being crime, disaster, and criticism of the actions and decisions of those in authority. To some extent, he said,

news was almost by definition, bad news. A good newspaper, Mr Brabant said, mirrored society. It did not preconceive the news from a particular standpoint. The company’s managing director, Mr H. M. Horton, said Northern Television, Ltd, a Wilson and Horton subsidiary,. was ready to start broadcasting at any stage. If the Labour Government chose to review the previous Government’s directive to the Broadcasting Tribunal to call for applications for television warrants, his company would suggest that three regions instead of four for additional television coverage would bring economics and speed coverage, said Mr Horton. It would also suggest, he added, that U.H.F. transmission should be adopted for the better base if provided for extending television services into the 21st century.

Northern TV was being upgraded to cope with rapid changes in technology, said Mr Horton. “Private television has much to offer,” he told shareholders.