Prof. Brookes On The "Dom"

There is nothing constitutionally improper in the N.Z. government introducing legislation to prevent overseas take-overs of N.Z. concerns stated Professor Brookes of the Political Science Department. He also added that allegations of Mr. Holyoake taking the path towards totalitarianism, if such legislation was introduced, were unfounded.

Professor Brookes noted that as far as he knew there was no evidence to suggest that the Thomson organisation was interested in changing editorial policy, they have not done so elsewhere. The paper would remain basically conservative in outlook. According to Thomson sources, the combine was only interested in the newspaper as a monetary concern.

If the Thomson organisation managed to secure the controlling rights of The Dominion it could be a welcome event for New Zealand said Professor Brookes. There would be two probable consequences. A rise in the standard of the newspaper would probably occur (one reason would be that Thomson newspapermen though worked hard are well paid). Secondly, if the newspaper developed into a national daily it would create competition, a state of affairs much needed in N.Z. Professor Brookes added that a Thomson dominated market on a national scale need not come about as other N.Z. newspapers had enough resources to attempt to develop a national circulation.