GOVERNMENT ADVERTISING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10203, 3 April 1911, Page 4

GOVERNMENT ADVERTISING.

The recent publication of i'mpoffcaat orders by the Defence Department, and the withholdaing of the advertisement concerning the same? from such papers as the "Dominion" and the "Dannevirke News," for no'otb>er apparent reason than that these papers are published in the Opposition interest, reveals an administrative scandal which would, we makebold to say, be permitted in no other, part of the British Dominions. Theapplication of the boycott—for such» it is—as a means of stifling public i criticism, is intolerable TIT a land which boasts its freedom. It must | be remembered that the revenue of r 1 the State is not contributed alone by supporters of the Government. j It is provided by all sections of the i community, and should be dispensed in an impartial and prudent manner. j What business man would dream of withholding his advertisement from the "Dominion" on the plea that he did not agree with its politics, or , that its shareholders were wealthy men ? What excuse has the GovernI ment for doing what a business man ! would not do ? It is idle to introduce i the plea of economy in defence of j the action of the Government, when !it is remembered that papers which | were established' in Pahiatua, Carterton, and elsewhere in the inter- | ests of the Great Liberal Party, and [in opposition to old-standing jouri nals-, were freely subsidised by ( the j Stent© with advertisements. There ican be absolutely no defence for tne deliberate boycotting of the "Domin" ion," and when this boycott affects the system of defence, which should be beyond party politics, the scandal 1 becomes the more pronounced. Is it proposed! to draw the Territorial fouoe entirely from the ranks of Government supporters ? Even such an extreme proposition could hardly be regarded as sufficient excuse for the boycott."