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Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1065, 18 September 1879, Page 2

At vesteniays meeting of the Otago Land l: oard. Mr. Jleeve.s took the initiative in a discission on the system of advertising •he lini.-i sales in one paper, and ar-jttcri that they should be inserted in all the iJunedin [iaj.ur.-i. The Commissioner explained that the advertising was done by contract. tin: Otago Daily Times being | tti p • f file contract for the pie- ?• lit, ami that every department was obliged to advertise under that contract. Mr. Hastings said : "I fjuite agree with Mr. Ileeved on the ground of policy. I think it i.< very had policy of tiie Government ; for if you have anything to sell, the greater publicity you give it the better. No private individual would do as the Government »i»cs in many things." It was ultimately decided to allow the matter to stiiid ov.-r till next meeting. Of course we take Mr. Hastings view of the • iuestion. Mr. Hastings is an .v.tcth'iieer. and a g.iod one too, and 110 class «if men have such a keen appreciation of the value of advertising as auctioneers. I: rhey wished specially to notify the Ts- pte " the North Island they would n-'t advertise in a trait Vrn paper, whilst, perhaps, some <;i the more important North Island papers were entirely overlooked. Vet this is just what we havo aeen the Government do, and not the present Government only, hut its predecessors. The fact is that the business of apportioning Government advertisements is too frei|uently left to thoughtless, underpaid understrappers, when it should be attended to i y :ho-e who would have the sense to know how to apportion it so a* to .-ecure the L'roafest publicity in the • ttrar'er desired at the smallest possible eo-r. 'Flu's question of Govcrmnent I advertising will, v.e believe, occupy the Litrenrion of Parliament during the i approaching session, at least we hope so. lr is i mistake to supple that it is the first drtty of anybody having property to sell to be niggardly over the advertising.' of that property. The adoption of such | a :>"fu-v frequently ends in the loss oi an i ; iM ,,imt that would cover tnany times the ' C..« otadverrisiit-eSiie'e-ifly.atiti.peihai-. the property d"es let s--!l at a'!, leavi iti„' the owner to p:;y the i.mall advertising ! charges that had such a charm for i:itit I without KeU'r.'r any !>er.etlt whatsoever. of c'litrse. i r :s quite impossible to coinI pute what the Government has lost in t:ii.- • v/av. B r it we cat! form a pre'fv snrewd . jtieiH that it is by no weans an inconsiderable amount, l!es'.dc:i. a private iudtvidwat ttiav do as he i'.UeS - he may be as !'■ thir system of adver-tt-itiif he tt-iopri r.fid fV* nmotitlt or money he may les" by i:> judicious eheesepari[v_r— bti; it is the aosolutc duty of tiie Government re" only !•> use ever*.* endeavour by a wise distribution ol their advertising to jvatiie : >r Colonial t>ropvrtv the pi-stoie price, but to r.otir'v. to the be,- r-.f their ability, all | ivli.; are hkeiy to i.e interested in the Uates . f proper y. !n r . if they do the st iii.:y their i.-st to secure the second, and Restriction of advertising expenditure means oniy partial publicity, rest net i'.n of patronage, and restriction of proceeds. To use a iiomelv .e.(*o''. those who advertise searitit.'lv 41 spoil the ship for tiie bake of a eo.u of tar." It may be said that we are ar.'uini; ouro.-.n cause. we are. Tint, seeing that we are now favored with advertising support that places us beyond the necessity to grumble •>» otir own a.'cttnt, "n this occasion we are more in tiie iriterests ot attveitimers an>t the public than ourselves. V-.e are, ti;-t. Uke Mr. I»istitejs. **speai\iliu the Words of soberness and trioh.'