GOVERNMENT FAVORS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5484, 24 October 1878, Page 4

GOVERNMENT FAVORS.

TO THE EDirOE OP TUE SEW ZEALAND TIMES. ■ Sin,—A parallel to- the monopoly the Government had arranged to give to three newspapers took place about eighteen months ago, when the proprietors of the Otago Gaardtan t ‘who afterwards became the owners 'of the Otago Times, paid a high price to secure the sale of newspapers and books On the Otago railways. As’ soon as their tender was taken they excluded all but their own journal from the platform, to the great inconvenience of the public. The same persons now endeavor to monopolise intelligence for their paper, and : two others, - while journals much more widely circulated are to bo excluded. A . Government, which appears as tho .benefactor of: humanity should not descend to this obvious, trade trick, especially when one of thorn is the largest lona fide shareholder in- the favoroi Otago journal. The advertising shower poured into the lap ot this.„,modern.:Danau by ,a .facile .Government would startle "some hon. members. Their tender for advertising was sent back to the Otago Times ho he retouched in tho direction of increased price after it had been soot to the Government. The railway time - table was, without tender, increased 50 per. cent, by the same benevolent hand, and stringent orders were'given to departments calling for tenders to favor the Ministerial puffer alone, without regard to the inferior publicity entailed by its limited circulation. ’ The loss to the country has been, large, and tbs degradation of a journal hitherto of r-oQ-.l character complete.—l am, &c,, ° ’ Veras; .