GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE AND PRIVATE ENTERPRISE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 95, 19 October 1909, Page 3

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE AND PRIVATE ENTERPRISE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — Your correspondent "Out of Work Comp." states his complaint against the Government Printing Office under two heads: First, that in giving assistance to the private firm work was taken away from tho workless compositor. In this he is entirely wrong, as no composing, .composition, or compositor's work was opne by the Government establishment — it was don© in our house, and no other firm in the city could do the work the Go\ eminent Printer did in "helping 1 tho lame dog over the stile" — work his plant was capable of doing easily under an hour. Secondly, that a.n injustice was done the engineering firms of the city. In this he is also wrong, •as the obstruction that caused the difficulty was removed by Messrs. Andrews ariti Manthel. TKe monotype, the machine in question, is the latest invention in type-setting machinery imported into this country, and is remarkable for its very complicated and intricate adjustments." To expect an engineer to understand its mechanism, even after hours of study, so as to .aronerlv adjust it, would be absurd. Necessarily it occasionally happens that expert advice is advisable, and tho Government Printer hag been so good as to allow his expert to visit and advise in emergencies (less than.' four hours in six months), and surely no objection can be taken to his action. This favour is freely extended by one printer to another in the case of linotype experts. The Government makes a charge (a profitable one) for the man's services. — I am., eto. > LEM. T. WATKINS. Wellington, 14th October, 1909.