Page 2 Advertisements Column 2

Press, Volume XXXI, Issue 4287, 26 April 1879, Page 2 (Supplement)

Government Notices. | Government Advertising. The Directors of the Peess Company having had brought te their notice a leading article in the " Lyttelton Times" of 13th instant, on the subject of Government Advertising, think it advisable to publish the following statement for public information. On the Qth November, 1876, the Government of Major Atkinson called for tenders for advertising " such public notifications as were required to be or were usually published in the Provincial Government Gazette" in Canterbury. The 11 Lyttelton Times" proprietors were the successful tenderers, being lower in price. This contract did not apply tp ihe buUc of Government advertisements, viz.:—those issued from the Colonial Secretary's office, and from tJie office of the Minister for Public Works. Tha year 1877, for which ■ the contract was given, coming to a close, fresh tenders were .called for in November of that year. The tender of the "Lyttelton Times"was higher than that of the Pbess Company, and was accepted for three (3) months only on the ground of the prices quoted being deemed excessive ; that of the Peess Company being rejected on the ground of informality. Shortly after the expiration of that period, the Government, instead of calling for fresh tenders for the whole or any portion of the advertising, discontinued advertising in the Pbess newspaper, and gave all the advertisements to the 11 Lyttelton Times " at its own price, and tJiat arrangement is still in force. Lf extent of circulation had been the guide of the Government in their selection of the best advertising medium, they would have called for fresh tenders periodically. It is plain that, had they wished to act fairly in the matter, they would have adopted that simple and obvious course. j It being generally received that the crucial test of the value of an advertising medium is its circulation, the Directors of the PRES3 Company are prepared to prove to the satisfaction of any officer the Government may appoint, that the circulation of the Pbess newspaper is larger than that of any other morning newspaper published in New Zealand. Christchurch, March 13, 1879. ' Published Gratuitously. THE Directors of the ft Pb_Bß " N-WSPAPkb Compant have the honor to lay before ! their subscribers and flhe publio generally the , following facts :—Tha Government had been in the habit of inserting public notifications in both the morning newspapers published in O-ristohu-cb until 17th April last. Since that date no orders, for advertising have been given to the Pbjbss newspaper from the Colonial Secretary's office or the Public Works Department in "Wellington, whilst _ush notices have regularly and te a large extent been advertised in tha '* Lytteltea Times." Inconsequence of a this change, the Directors of the Pbkss Company deemed it advisable to make inquiries a I headquarters, and oue of them viated Wellington for that purpose, and had interviews with tha Government on tha subject generally. It Was ascertained that tt was the intention of tho • Government that in future such advertisements , would be given only to the «?.Lyttelton > Times" and the " Timaru Herald" in Canterbury. It was represented to ihe Government that so ■ partial a distribution of Government advertising : would not only place the excluded journals at a ' disadvantage, but would also be -rjurioua to the 1 public interest, as tending to lessen the publicity given to the advertisements in question. The Government stated that economy in advertising waa necessary, and that, other things being equal, it would not be surprising if they gave their advertisements to their own supportero. The Directors of ths Pbxbs Company, perceiving that the absence of ths Government notices ia the Pbxss will place the subscribers to that journal at a disadvantage, have determined to publish without charge all Government notices appearing in the " Lyttelton Times," hut withheld from the Pbxss. Their subscribers and the Government will, therefore, obtain a gratuitous advantage bo long as tho present system •onti-ues. In making this pecuniary sacrifice, the Directors of the Pbxss Company feel that they wSI have public sympathy, and that public opinion will justify their present action in resisting any attempt on the part of the Govern* meat to use Government advertising aa-a means of securing political support. POST AND TELEGRAPH OFFICE, D_.YAUCHELLE'S BAY. Publio Werks Office, Christchurch, "April 15th, 1879. TENDEES are invited for the Erection of a Post and Telegraph Office at Devauchelle's Bay. General conditions, specifications, and drawings may be seen at the Public Works Office, Christchurch, and the Post Office, Akaroa. Tenders addressed to the Hon. the Minister fox Public Works, and marked outside " Tender for Post and Telegraph Office," will be received at the above office up to noon on MONDAT, May sth, 1879. ' The lowest or any tender not necessarily aci cepted. By command, . A. D. AUSTIN, Distinct Engineer. NEW ZEALAND RAILWAYS. EDENDAUS-TOI-TOIS—" WINDHAM CONTRACT." (Formation Only.) Length, Three Miles Seventy C_ai__. Public Works Office, Dunedin, March 26th, 18T9. W BITTEN Tenders will be received at this office up te Noon on WEDNESDAY, the S0& April, 1879. for the above contract. They are to be marked on the outside, " Tender forWyndham Contract," and addressed to _*» Hon. the Minister of Public Works. Dunedin. Telegraphic ten-ew, similarly addressed and marked, will be received if presented at any Telegraph office by Noon of the same date, provided written tenders in due form are lodged at any district or resident engineer's office, by t—o same h.nr. Xh—wings, upecifi e*_ions, —xml general conditions may be seen at this office, and at the Public Works Offices, Wellington, Christohureh. and InvercargilL The lowest or any tender w-l not necessarily be accepted. By command. I W. N. BLAIR, Enginecr-in-Charge, Middle Is4,a*l '