GOVERNMENT ADVERTISMENTS: ANOTHER LITTLE GAME.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5420, 10 August 1878, Page 1 (Supplement)

GOVERNMENT ADVERTISMENTS: ANOTHER LITTLE GAME.

(From the Dunedin Morning Herald) August 2)

The recommendation of the Committee of the Chamber of Commerce that all bankruptcy notices should be advertised in the Mercantile Gazette of New Zealand led to considerable discussion at the meeting of the Chamber yesterday. The absurdity of such a proposal was clearly pointed out by Mr. Gillies, and the foolishness of asking a legislative body to subsidise a private venture was held up to the ridicule which it deserved. Had the Chamber —or rather we should say the comparatively few members of it who were present—been guided in their decision by the weigh t of argument adduced for and against the motion, Dunedin would have been saved from the ridicule which the passing of such a futile resolution must bring upon it. "But it was otherwise, and indeed it was evident that all the logic in creatbu would not have altered the opinion of the supporters of this silly resolution. It found an enthusiastic, if not au eloquent advocate in a gentleman who has himself already tasted something of the sweets of advertising monopoly—who seemed to bo brimful of the subject—and panting with the desire that his ** maiden” speech should be made in its support. Indeed, as was very aptly remarked by one speaker, the ‘gentleman we refer to seemed to know all about the venture, and what the Govvrmuent would do to help it along. Of .course he denied that he had any interest whatever in the matter, and assured his hearers that he was moved by no other consideration than, the public good (as ic anyone had said that he was!) At the same time, however, it would be absurd to deny that he did manifest just a little too much eagerness in his endeavor to make the resolution assume a particular shape, and, hacked up .by a majority, the strength of which he fully appreciated—as appeared from the taunt which he addressed to the minority—he carried his point. Who shall say that farther consideration for the public good may not lead to the incorporation of the projected Gazette with au existing newspaper, especially as the form in which the resolution to which wo are referring was carried is well calculated to accomplish that object ?