The Temuka Leader. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 1879.

Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 130, 19 March 1879, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 1879.

A keen controversy has been going on on the West Coast of this island about the public advertisements emanating from the local public bodies. A series of articles on the same subject has appeared in the ‘ Lyttelton Times ! in some of its late issues. How far the Government is to be blamed we are not prepared to say, at any rate if they do give a fair share to their friends, it is no more or so much as is daily taking place amongst ourselves. Some of the West Coast papers complain that all is given to one journal. The ‘Press’ on this side of the island complains, and has long complained, that the ‘ Times ’ had a monopoly of the Government advertisements. Even were such the case it would only be carrying out the principle established by, a former Government. If it is bad iri Government it is worse in smaller institutions, yet we see the same principle carried out every day. Now we do not object to journals who may be established in the centres of population getting a larger share of support from public "bodies than those journals who are not so favorably situated. But we do object to any public body giving all its patronage to one journal because it is so situated, when at the same time that journal may be most unpopular amongst the great mass of the people. Yet this is daily taking place. Such a short-sighted unjust policy often works its own cure, either by calling into operation a more popular publication or stifling the voice of the outspoken independent journal. This policy tends to good and evil, it tends to good in that it brings into the fieH in the centre of population an opposition paper which freely moves, and more unreservedly and consistently expresses the sentiments of the people. This is a good which every liberal-minded man ought to value, and do what lie can to assist in order that an nnti’ammelled fiee flow of thought may be disseminated amongst the people. ’Tis true there are not the classes in this country that there are in the older countries. We have no aristocracy in New Zealand, barely a basis for a middle class, consequently the subjects and occupations in which a groat portion of these classes exercise their faculties and spend their time upon are not to be found here. It is only subjects of trade, commerce, or

agriculture for the most part. A few may indulge in the pastimes obtained in pastoral pursuits, but the great bulk of the population arc engaged in trade and commerce, and their necessary accompaniment—agriculture. The professions and arts have barely taken root amongst us, and enterprise beyond the bounds of our little island are scarcely thought of. The all-absorbing thought of how to make money seems to haunt everyone by night and by day. Whether this is done by fair and just means is often a secdndary matter. “ Get money honestly if you can, but by any means get money.” It is no wonder then when this is the prevailing feeling that unjust procedure, even in the case of advertising, is often to be met with. It is right, and extremely useful, to have a powerful opposition in order that both sides of a question may be fully ventilated. This it is difficult to carry out in small communities, such as our own, for instance. In Timaru it is different. There is population there to support a spirited, independent paper, and doubtless such will very soon make its appearance ; but in our little community, as in all little communities, it is different. It depends upon local support whether a free and independent press is to remain amongst them or whether it will have to remove to other and more sympathising settlements, and take up an opposition field where a free and manly discussion will be received and supported more warmty. For ourselves, we have to thank our kind friends for the liberal support they have latterly bestowed, considering the smallness of the community ; yet it cannot be denied that much more could be done, and with profit to the dispenser. Our chief complaint is, however, against some local bodies who, because this journal deems it its duty to expose the unfair dealings of some of their members, are down upon the local paper at once, and the first step is to stop the advertisement. Such conduct is, to say the very least, mean and contemptible, and only betrays a smallness of mind, which we have to thank Providence for discovering, lest they should by some scheming or bribing get into offices for which they were never by nature intended. It is not the few shillings that they may deprive the proprietors of that they so much care for, but unkind, revengeful feeling that it generates, and which has such a demoralising tendency. It is well we have not many such law administrators amongst our Geraldine County local Boards. Such men would, if they had the power, crush every attempt to expose fraud and deception. Luckily, their power is as small as their brains. Evil communications corrupt good manners. The contaminating influence of such narrow-minded souls shows itself as like produces like. Especially is this the case in small settlements where the spread of knowledge is limited, but, like all corruption, it leads to rottenness and decay. The effect, though, is sometimes damping to an editor, who has his mind ruffled thereby. Editors, some people think, have only to turn the tap and the flow of suitable matter goes on like the cork leg for ever, and faster than the l ' devil” can carry it to the compositors. Such generous souls would do well to visit the editor’s sanctum, when the sighs and groans and thumps upon the forehead would show him that an editor has to take many a whiff of the cigar or some stimulating beverage to bring his ideas out in due form; yet all this his supporters do not think about when they begin to fumble in their pockets for the small pittance they choose to bestow upon the enterprising individual who may have the boldness and the patriotism to embark upon what turns out to be often a very thankless undertaking. We cannot but sympathise with our West Coast contemporaries, who have to struggle against such discouragements as they often meet with. It will be some time yet before our people will come to see the advantage of advertising. They are too matter-of-fact in their proceedings—too much of the Scotticism in them ; it is too much “ what will that ge us !” They have not yet experienced, like our Yankee friends, the benefits of advertising. Anyone taking up an American paper would be ready to think what ruinous_ expenditure these people must be committing themselves to, yet what do we find 1 Quite the reverse. What was it that made Old Parr’s fortune!—Advertising. What_ was it that :nadej.Warren’s blacking so universally received I —Advertising. What was it that gave Barnum a name ?—Advertising. So is it in every instance. It is casting bread upon the waters which will return to them again. It may not be all at once right off the reel, but it will come. A name is everything. A name has to be made, and a name is everything ; but a name is not made in a day. Every good business man knows that if he does not advertise he will not succeed. What, then, we ask our friends is to give us what the West Coast papers ask, a fair share of their patronage ; we do not ask for all ; live or let live is our motto. On this principle we have acted hitherto, and on. this principle we will go on for ever, but there is no use Lying to conceal the fact that it is advertising that supports a paper. If our friends would only come out a little more liberally we would be able to come out in return as a tri-weekly, and surely the settlers of this spirited little town will give that encouragement to that which must help to push the place ahead. Public money ought to be spent in a fair and equitable manner by our public bodies. Our thanks are due to the Temuka and Mount Peel Road Boards for their fair dealings with us hitherto. We hope Geraldine will follow suit, and not let itself he unfavorably spoken of in this matter as in other things. Our thanks are also due to our many local supporters, of all classes. No doubt as they get greater light they will have greater advertisements ; meantime times are not the best, and everyone has to be careful. Next to the clergyman’s salary the advertising list is looked over to see if any deduction can be made. Never a thought is passed about the pounds for shillings that may be spent week after week in a more questionable manner. One more remark, it is this : it will be recollected that some eight or ten years ago only one journal was published in South Canterbury, It will be well enough recollected how difficult, if not impossible, it was to get any public question ventilated unless the views of the writer coincided with those of the editor. Cornmunicalions, oftener than otherwise, were consigned to the Avaste basket. Not so many years ago a Avon! against the articles appearing in the leading journal dare not be criticised, and the broAV-bcat-

ing style adopted was perfectly insulting, yet no one dare complain, or if he did it Avas only to have his sayings and doings mangled and garbled to such an extent as made the report of them Avhen they did see the light look most ridiculous. Now, hoAvever, times are altered. Every man can speak his mind fully and freely, and express his opinion upon any subject or any person vrhen he sees what is not right being said or done. There is now a chance of having both sides of any question fully ventilated. This is no mean boon to any district, and hoAvever distasteful to some unfavorable criticism may be it leads to improvement even in the accused’s conduct or discharge of public duties AA’hich but for this Avould never have taken place. Instances of the effect of free and fair criticism are to be met Avith on every hand even during the last few months. Any paper then that fearlessly and honestly shows up the shortcomings of our public men and the conducting of our public institutions Ave are sure Avill always be bigbly prized by men of the true stamp.