THE COUNTY ADVERTISING.

Manawatu Herald, 26 July 1881, Page 2

THE COUNTY ADVERTISING.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MANAWATU HERALD. Sir,—ln a recent issue of the Herald', a correspondent, in writing on the above subject, criticises somewhat severely the action of the Manawatu County Council in its laudable"attempt to economise;' and Ke' seemingly fails to recognise that the august body is n^f ->ly endeavouring to break np the mon poly for advertising for the Council which the iniquitous Press of the County haa scoured -by an atrocious combination, • but to save fully sixpence a yard in advertising, by handing over the Council's advertisements to the "Evening JPost"—a newspaper generally supposed by the inhabitants of this district to be published somewhere in Hawke's Bay. To be sure, no one in the Cdnnty will now see the Council's advertisements ; and a loss of a few hundred a year will probably ;result to the ratepayers ; but what of that, if the monopoly so long enjoyed by onr Press is eventually broken up, and the notices of * the Council appear in the County newspapers at a reduction of sixpence a yard,, and without the " Lion and tYe Unicorn " straddled out into impossible attitudes at the head of each announcement just to take up space to enrich a lot of newspaper people at the expense of the poor ratepayers ? If further proof of the strict economy practised by the Council is wanting, is it not a fact thafc the County Engineer, who receives a salary of several hundred pounds a year, has been engaged running about with a pot of paste and a big brush sticking up posters for the Council, whilst a person, better fitted for a billsticker, and whose knowledge of engineering, is doubtful, was appointed by the Council, at a salary considerably under that of the County Engineer, to lay off a line for the important main road which is to be constructed from Foxton to Waikanae, so as to connect at the ultimate point of junction of the Mangaroa road, and fche road from Wellington via Paikakariki; this was no doubt a highly satisfactory arrangement and probably resulted.in the saving of a few s/bV&'ngr*—that" is, in the opinion of the CouncU. Tp be sure.it is whispered that many portions of this already costly line of road from Foxton to Otaki will have to be abandoned at the loss , of many thousands of pounds of publio , money, and that the road line southwards of Otaki has. been abandoned,(after costing, tbe Horowhenua ratepayers .£150) in con* sequence of the same amateur engineer having laid off the roadin a zigzag, running it in almost every direction south of east and west in his abortive attempts to reach Waikanae ! Now who will say that onr Council is not economical ? That is in taking care of the ratepayers' pence and shillings : as for the £'s they have been in many cases literally squandered! However at last a Reform party has ariseh, ' composed proßabiy LofV councillors who now feel that ere longtheiigfc' places in Council will know them noinore,^ unless a show of reform is paraded to appease at all events the least unwary pf their respective constituents. But bow in the eleventh .hour can they establish a respectable case of reform ? They oould not;!." do, as you, Sir, pleasantly suggest, by. way of assisting them in their sadden efforts to economise, abolish or reduce the scale of " expenses" secured to themselves by their own resolution for attending the meetings ; for they have enjoyed the little comforts, which they awarded themselves, so long — till the general county election is almost at hand !—and some persons do so misconstrue evtn the most patriotic actions of their representatives ! What better than have a dig at the Press of the county, which occasionally has a littjle fun at the expense of some of the councillors. The very thing ! "Exorbitant charges of the county newspapers for advertisements must be put down! The ratepayers will .be r ruined ! The monopoly must be broken up!" To be sure the proprietors of the county newspapers have nofc, combined 'fco . extort exorbitant pricea for inserting the Council's advertisements ; indeed, it is understood that they have treated the Council on more liberal terms than they do ordinary- ■ customers. But into the Evening Post the Council's advertisements go;—never mind if it is the best means of circulating the . notices in the county or not T -aJfeW*Bhilj,? lings per month will thns b*s sived. TJVae I .*■ and possibly many dG's lost thivug-h. tbp announcements nofc receiving proper pup* licity throughout the county!.! Well; the ratepayers will Boon, have an opportunity of dealing with ' this " Penny-wise-and-pound-foolish " Reform-party '1 I am, &o^ H.J^A. r. Otaki, July 22, 1881. " '"' l