GOVERNMENT PRINTER CENTURY IN CAPITAL

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30712, 30 March 1965, Page 7

GOVERNMENT PRINTER CENTURY IN CAPITAL

New Zealand’s largest printing establishment, the Government Printing Office, has been at Wellington for 100 years.

When the seat of government was transferred to Wellington in 1865, the Government Printer was directed to move his plant to Wellington, where it was re-established on the old Hotel Cecil site. The then Government Printer (Mr J. L. Wilson) preferred to remain at Auckland, and when he resigned Mr G. Didsbury, previously the Government Printer’s overseer, was appointed. The department’s first 25 years of service at Wellington was marked on October 8, 1890, when a fire destroyed the printing office. Many early records, valuable publications and stationery were lost.

By 1899 the department’s staff had increased from nine (an overseer, five compositors, two boys and a general assistant) to 300. More efficient equipment was installed, and in 1903 machine-composition was introduced to New Zealand. The Dominion’s first stampcoiling machine was introduced in 1920. Three years earlier steam power for the printing machinery was replaced by electric motors. The department was forced to curtail operations in 1932 during the depression, and its staff fell from 507 in 1930 to 340. After the depression, output increased steadily. By 1937 staff numbered 513, by 1938 it was 576 and by 1939, 631. The value of the work produced during these two years was £304,580 and £357,110 respectively. Mr R. E. Owen was appointed Government Printer in 1949, and considerable reorganisation was undertaken. One of the main changes was to establish a production section, and although the staff that year was 150 fewer than 10 years previously, the turnover was £711,908. An Auckland branch was opened on August 7, 1950. Its main functions were tb service all stationery required by Government departments in the Auckland province and to provide duplicating services for departments in the Auckland city area. The Christchurch branch opened in September, 1951. Apart from servicing all stationery requirements of Government departments in the South Island and providing duplicating services for departments in the Christchurch

central area, the branch also undertook the sale of Government publications. The transfer of the Ministry of Works plant-printing branch to the Government Printer’s control in 1953 marked the establishment of a central plan-printing service for all Government de-

partments. In that year the turnover exceeded £1 million for the first time. In 1956 the Cabinet approved in principle the plan-

ning of a new main Government Printing Office of 150,000 square feet working area at the corner of Thorndon quay and Mulgraye street, Wellington. Decentralisation began in 1958. Factories were set up in existing buildings at Petone (pamphlet and brochure printing), Miramar (telephone directories, school publications), and Walter street, Wellington (general jobbing work), in addition to the Newtown branch and the head office in Lambton quay. In 1959, central document reproduction services, to do work for other government departments, were established at Auckland and Christchurch. At the same time. Government bookshops and mail order services were opened at these branches. Similar shops were opened at Hamilton and Dunedin in 1961.

In 1960 work started at Evans Bay on the department’s first new building. Since then work has begun on new premises at Kilbirnie and the new head office in Mulgrave street, Wellington. The Government Printing Office last year had a staff of 853 (including 99 apprentices), of whom 786 were at Wellington. Its turnover exceeded £1,500,000.