THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING.

Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 58, 5 September 1885, Page 2

THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING.

The Gazette just issued affords a practical illustration of a question which has recently engaged the attention of Seleot Committees of both branches of the Legislature, namely, whether the Government printing oan be more cheaply exeonted by private firms than at the Government Offioo. Some months ago the Telegraph Department invited tenders for printing sixteen millions of telegraph forms, in response to whioh it appears from the Gazette that fourteen were reoeived —nine from printers within the colony, and five from withont, tha lowest being from the Government Printer, whose tender was .£1252, whioh has consequently been aooepted. Of the five London tenders, two were apparently below the Government Printer; but as all of them were for delivery free on board at London, freight, insurance, and binding charges have consequently to be added to arrive at their comparative values. As the paper for printing this large quantity of forms will probably exceed 30 tons in weight, these charges would not bo muoh under and with this amount added the five London tenders are all above that of the Government Printer. Turning to the local firms, we find that Maokay & Co., of Dnnedin, are i-304 18s higher than the Government Printer ; Whitoombe & Tombs, Christohnroh, £323; Wilsons & Horton, Auckland, .£498; Book & Cousins, Wellington, .£548; and Fergnsßon & Mitohell, Dunedin, £595. Viewed in the light of the evidenoe reoently given before the Printing Committees, this result showß how little reliance oan be plaoed on the opinion expressed by some of the "experts ' examined, one of whom stated that " private offices could generally work oheaper and oloser than Government establishments," and yet the tender reoeived from his firm is .£498 higher than Mr. Didsbury's. 7. r e consider the information afforded by the publication of these tenders to be singularly opportune and instructive.