JOURNALISTIC RIVALRY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5308, 30 March 1878, Page 5 (Supplement)

JOURNALISTIC RIVALRY.

(Brom the Dunedin Morning Herald, ■. March 16.) Our readers no doubt remember that a few months ago a carefully-planned scheme resulted in the purchase of the Otago Daily Times newspaper from the joint-stock company who were formerly its proprietors. We do not propose at present to go into all the circumstances connected with that very peculiar transaction, but only wish to draw attention to one par-' tioular feature. The first step taken by the new proprietors, regardless alike of law and good feeling, was to dismiss, almost without exception, the employes of the Daily Times, company, at one week’s notice. ~ They, at the. same time, meanly attempted to create an impression on the public mind that they intended to amalgamate the staSs of the Times and the Ouardian. We do not now draw attention to this matter for the purpose of condemning such heartless conduct. But it is perhaps possible that there may be some other members of the community who are capable of ignoring the just rights of employes, and who, on purchasing a rival establishment, might not hesitate to send adrift twenty or. thirty bread-win-ners at a moment’s notice. We do not believe it would be easy to, find many such men. , But few as they may be, ;we think it is well that they should be warned that if they act in such a manner they incur a risk of suffering in pocket as well as in the opinion of all just, right-minded members of the community. With this object we draw attention to what occurred" in the case of the Daily Times. .A large number of the employes who were so summarily ejected brought actions at law nominally against tho former proprietors, but really. against the present proprietors of the Times. The latter, apparently not relishing the ordeal of a jmblio interview with the District Judge or Resident Magistrate, compromised all the actions, and agreed to pay in each case what was equal to a full month’s salary, and, in addition, a round sum for law costs. They have thus not only had to incur the odium which, inevitably attaches to harsh, unjust treatment of their fellow men, but have also been obliged, to pay considerably more money than would have been necessary had they given, .fair notice to the original staff of the Times'. As we believe in the aphorism that an ounce of example is worth more than several pounds of precept, we have related this incident for the benefit of the very few members of the community whom we believe to be capable of following the bad example of the purchasers of the Daily Tim( s. 1 The Herald of a later date contains the following The Daily Times seems very anxious to enlighten the, public as to why it tendered for the Corporation advertising at the liberal rate of sixpence , per , inch. In a paragraph roundly abusing the Corporation, it makes a number of assertions which certainly entitle 5 it

to claim the position of the', miri-leading journal of Dunedin. It- says :—“The usual practice of the proprietors of this journal is to decline to tender for any advertising services required by the public.” Our contemporary can scarcely have forgotten the tact, that it has twice tendered for the public advertising of the General Government. On the' first occasion it obtained the Government advertisements at a charge of one shilling per inch. On the second occasion, confident in the knowledge ■ that it had friends, if not proprietors, at Court, it tendered for and obtained all the Government advertisements at the rate of 4s. per inch. The public at present pay that comparatively exorbitant rate for the privilege of advertising in a journal which has the lowest circulation of any newspaper of standing in Dunedin. ; Our contemporary, it is true, asserts that it possesses a “ wide circulation.” We hope the Corporation will put this statement to the test the next time it calls for tenders, by requiring tenderers to do what iwe did voluntarily on this occasion, namely, produce an affidavit t setting forth the average circulation of the journal tendering. If the Corporation had done so on the present occasion, it would be found that they are about to pay dearly for advertising even at sixpence per inch. The 'Daily Times states that its proprietors intend to.handover the amount received for Corporation advertising to the Benevolent Institution. We sincerely trust this statement rests i on ■■ a: more veracious foundation than other statements contained in the paragraph. If the Institution should ever be so fortunate' as to receive this handsome donation, it is to be hoped that the members of- that mysterious “ circle,” the real proprietors of the Times, will come forth into the light of day, so that, in accordance with the rules of the Benevolent Institution, the honor of life-governorships may be conferred upon them. 1