THE ADVERTISING JOB.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5508, 21 November 1878, Page 3

THE ADVERTISING JOB.

(From the Dunedin Morning Herald.) What are the Government going to do in the matter of the contracts for advertising Gazette notices for the ensuing year ? The contracts now running expire on the 80th of this month, and in previous years tenders were called for early in November, As they have made no move in the matter thus far, we begin to wonder whether they will take the trouble to go through the form of requesting offers from newspapers willing to undertake the work ; or whether they are so well satisfied with their present “ advertising mediums 0 (partly owned by themselves), and the rates paid to them, as to leave what they consider well alone for an indefinite period. Of course, legally, they have no option in the matter, and they should have called for tenders for advertising the coming year’s Gazette notices ere this time, Deubtless, however, they have drivers among their number skilful enough to drive a coach-and-four through any . number of Acts of Parliament. If the Government have really decided not to go through the farce of tendering, we must confess that we feel aggrieved, and so doubtless will many of our independent contemporaries. The least the Ministry could do would be to give us the melancholy satisfaction of formally parading our vastly superior circulation before their eyes. However, if the worst comes to the worst, we can bide our time. By the way, while we are on the subject, we would venture to make an inquiry as to when the celebrated “ Advertisement Returns,” asked for by, the Hon. W. Fox on August 14bh, are likely to be published. It is now upwards of three months since they were promised, and the long delay that has taken place leads people to one of two conclusions—either that Government are for some reason unwilling to give them publicity, or that there must have been an enormous number of advertisements bestowed upon their favorites.