GOVERNMENT PRINTER

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 119, 23 May 1933, Page 6

GOVERNMENT PRINTER

Mil. SKINNER RETIRES AFTER LONG SERVICE The retirement was announced today of .Mr. WilliaiA Alexander George Skinner from tho position of Government Printer. Mr. Skinner has occupied the position since 1922, but h,c has been connected with tho Government Printing Office since 1879. .The retirement will become effective' at tho end of the present Inonth. Mr. Skinner was born at New Plymouth in 1865, was educated at Mowbray's School, Wellington, and entered the Government Printing Office in October, 1879, at the age •of 14, as a reader's boy. After ■ eerying his apprenticeship as a compositor, he was transferred in 1889 to the charge of tho prison printing office at Lyttelton. He returned to the Government Printing Office in 1894, was.appointed overseer of the jobbing-room in 1905, promoted to the office of superintendent in 1909, and appointed Government Printer in June, 1922. During his career he' has been associated with trades unionism, and was for a number of years president of the Wellington Typographical Union. On becoming Government Printer, Mr. Skinner found, like those who preceded him, that his policy must be progressive. As nearly his whole life has been associated with tho 'Government Printing Office, it may not be out or place to give a few facts showing its progress during the past half-century. In June 1880, the employees numbered 135, the value of the work done during that year being £25,580. In the machine and press room there were then eight printing machines and live hand presses in use. Three years later the electric light was used in the building for the first time, ou Which occasion the office was visited by members of the Government and leading citizens of Wellington*. It was remarked tic that the test to which the light had been subjected since its had been highly satisfactory, aiid that its suitability for printing establishments could not be disputed, especially in such a building, where .large :numbers of men were crowded into small and not over-ventilated rooms The motive power was obtained at that toe from a portable steam-engine The new Government Printing Office was occupied in September, 1888. ifte move from the old building on t»e opposite side of Lambton Quay, -where the Hotel .Cecil now stands, was effected without any interruption of woik. For the year ended March 31, Wo-, the value of the work done by theoffleo was £123,807, and the average number of employeesVa. 310. It is interesting to note that at the present time, the type-setting or composition, except that in the jobbing-room, it done by monotype machines, and tho printing machinery is quite up to date. Considerable additfona to the equipment of the Government Printing Office have been made during Mr Skinner a term as head of the establishment. Hit active mind and familiarity with the advances-made in'the printing profession in the leading countries ■of the world enabled him to keep the office in a high state of efficiency. . Kising step by step from apprentice to the position of superintendent, Mr. Skinner has tho distinction of having been the first superintendent to be promoted Government Printer. His knowledge of printing in- all its branches is unusually wide, and his genial nature has gained for him tho esteem, not only of tho staff of the Government Printing Office, but also of the printing profession throughout the Dominion. In former years he occupied the position of vice-president aMd subsequently of president of the Wellington. Trades Council, and in the last-mentioned capacity conducted,' in 1900, tho first linotype dispute heard by the Arbitral tidn Court. ' From 1881 to'lßß9, Mr. Skinner jWas a member of the. Wellington Naval Artillery Volunteer Corps, and in 1890 served with tho "N" Battery Garrison Artillery at Lyttelton. In his younger days he was a rowing enthusiast, and took part in numerous club contests. Mr. Skinner is a member of the Ancient Order of Druids, and has for some years been a member of the Victoria Bowling Club. '