THE WAIKATO TIMES AND THE COUNCIL ADVERTISING.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1250, 3 July 1880, Page 3

THE WAIKATO TIMES AND THE COUNCIL ADVERTISING.

TO THE EDITOE. Sib, —In Thursday's issue of your journal I noticed an advertisement calling a meeting of the ratepayers of the Borough of Hamilton on "Wednesday night next, for the purpose of selecting a journal as the medium for advertising the Borough advertisements. Now, sir, as a ratepayer, I object to paying more rates than is really necessary ; but I think that the Council has gone out of its way in calling for tenders. However, this has been done, and as the matter is now left to the ratepaying portion of the community to decide I hope that every ratepayer will put in an appearance at the meeting, and give expression to his views. lam under the impression that there is something else in the background besides advertising, and if so it is well that it should be made public. A few months ago it was no uncommon remark to hear that the Waikato Times only reported a portion of the Council's proceedings. About that time I attended a meeting and heard a great deal more said than was reported, and sat beside the then representative (?) of your journal, who endeavored to catch the utterances as they fell from the differemt Councillors' lips, and note them down in longhand. Knowing that it ig impossible for a reporter to do justice to a speaker without the use of shorthand, I am not surprised at the bogus reports. I can mention several instances when ;io reporter was present ; and on one night in particular, when the Waixato Times reporter sat out the Carandini concert instead of looking after the business of the Council, and scraped his report together the next day. That time, however, has passed, and no one can dispute the stride your journal has made in giving full and accurate re^grta not ouly of the Couuoil

meetings, but, other matters which interest the whole of the Waikato community. Now, sir, I hope to see everyone present on Wednesday night next— the' Councillors especially — and let the subjeot have a tall and impartial consideration. As to the result there can be no doubt, and it is therefore needless for me to trouble your readers further.; — I am, &0., A Ratepaveb. July 2, 1880.