REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ENQUIRY AS TO THE EXPEDIENCY OF ESTABLISHING A GOVERNMENT PRINTING ESTABLISHMENT.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1862 Session I, D-07

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REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ENQUIRY AS TO THE EXPEDIENCY OF ESTABLISHING A GOVERNMENT PRINTING ESTABLISHMENT.

PRESENTED TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BY COMMAND.

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No. 1. MEMORANDUM BT THE ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY. Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 11th Feb., 1861. The Officers of the General Government named in the margin are requested to form a Board for the purpose of enquiring into, and reporting upon, the advisability of establishing in this Colony a Government Printing Press, in which official Printing could be done. Mr. F. D. Bell will be good enough to act as Chairman of the Board. The accompanying papers, noted in the margin, are enclosed for the information of the Board. Henry Sewell. {

No. 2. THE CHAIRMAN TO THE COLONIAL SECRETARY. Auckland, 2nd May, 1862. Sir, — I have the honor to forward the Report of the Board appointed to enquire and report upon the advisability of establishing a Government Printing Press in the Colony, with an explanatory Memorandum annexed; also the minutes of their meetings. I also herewith return the various documents that were submitted to the Board for its consideration. I have, &c, Charles Knight, Chairman. The Honorable the Colonial Secretary. (In the absence of Mr. Dillon Bell.)

Enclosure in No. 2. EEPOET. The Officers of the General Government appointed to form a Board for the purpose of enquiring into, and reporting upon, the advisability of establishing in this Colony a Government Printing Press, in which official Printing could be done, have the honor to report— That they find, from the enquiries they have made into the subject, and the evidence they have received, that it would be very advisable that a Government Printing Press should be established, not only as a matter of economy, but as a matter of convenience in expediting the daily work of the General Assembly during Session, and the general ordinary work of the Government. The Memorandum annexed fully details the reasons that have guided the Board to this conclusion. Cii-ikles Knight, Chairman, Auckland, 2nd May, 1862. In the absence of Mr. Dillon Bell.

Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure in No. 2. MEMORANDUM BY OFFICERS OF THE BOARD. Auckland, 2nd May, 1862. With a view to arrive at the safest conclusion upon the advisability o£ establishing a Government Printing Press in the Colony, we initiated our proceedings by requesting the Auditor to furnish

Mr. F. D. Bell Dr. Knight Mr. Gisborne Mr. Fenton Mr. Porter Mr. Cumin C»pt. Campbell Papers enclosed— J6-1719 ~—32K p. 58—1039 60—690 A 8-62-li

REPORT.

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Printed below.

returns of the actual cost of Printing for the General Government throughout the Colony from the year 1857, and obtained the following accounts: — The actual cost in 1858 was £1907. 1859 „ 3884. 1860 „ 1666. 1861 „ 3500. The cost for 1862 was estimated at £4000, out of a Revenue of £187,000, that being the nett income of the General Government, or jjths of the gross amount of £300,000, the estimated ordinary Revenue arising from Customs for this year. The question of printing referring exclusively to the General Government, this sum of £187,000 was considered the more correct basis upon whicli to frame our calculations. We compared this expenditure with that of such Australian Colonies as could be considered most nearly on a par in Revenue with New Zealand, where Government Printing Presses were established—selecting for the purpose the Colonies of Tasmania and South Australia. On examination of their Blue Books, we found our choice to be fortunate, as they both appeared to be of about the same bulk in matter as that of New Zealand. The Tasmanian volume is got up in a strikingly handsome manner, and handsomely half-bound, calf and cloth. The South Australian volume is more noticeable for the clearness and precision of their statistical and tabular papers, of which there are a very large quantity. In both these Colonies, they combine Bookbinding with their Printing Establishment. It would have been of material assistance to us, if, from the finance accounts in these volumes, we could have ascertained the original cost of their respective Presses: in this we were not successful. We therefore addressed the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, requesting him to write to those Colonies for the information; the answers will be valuable and suggestive for the guidance of the Government. However, if not the cost of the original outlay, we found from the estimated finance accounts the annual cost of maintaining those establishments to be— In Tasmania, with a Revenue from Customs in 1860 of £134,000, a gross cost of £4215, inclusive of an item of £620 for stationery. Rejecting this, the nett cost of their establishment for that year was £3595. In South Australia, with a Revenue from Customs in 1860 of £114,000, the actual cost of their establishment was £4200 for that year. A reference to their Blue Books of other periods do not show a material difference; these sums may therefore be fairly taken as the average annual cost of the establishments in those two Colonies. Having thus failed in completing the required information from the Blue Books, and unable to await answers from those Colonies, we determined, with the evidence of some of the professional Printers in Auckland, by comparing it with that which was adduced before the Printing Committee of the House of Representatives in 1858, and is printed in their Report (App. 1858, F—No. 3), a copy whereof is annexed, to frame an approximate estimate of the plant required for the present use of the Government, of the cost of such plant, the necessary outlay for establishing a Government Printing Establishment; and of the annual cost of its maintenance; and to base that estimate upon the quantity of work required to be done during a Session of the Assembly. We accordingly found that four different sorts of type are required—pica in the largest quantity; for, though only used for the Statute Book, it appears to be of material advantage and economy to be able to keep a number of Bills standing during the Session, to avoid the expense of re-composition. We therefore estimated that 5000 lbs. at Is. 6d. would be required, which would admit of 160 folios of standing stuff, besides 160 extra folios of current work. Small pica, for the Journals of both Houses, 1000 lbs., at Is. 9d. per lb. Long Primer, for Appendices and Gazette, 2500 lbs., at 2s. per lb. Brevier, for side notes, foot notes, &c., 500 lbs., at 2s. 6d. per lb. These prices for the type are high, but we retained them expecting that, admitting of a margin of 3d. to 4d. on the lb., type known in the trade as " extra hard" could be procured, which would not want renewing more than once in seven years. The cost of two presses, with their requisite adjuncts, &c, inclusive of the cost of type as above, and an allowance of 10 per cent, for costs and charges of shipping, &c, we found would be £1776; or, allowing for an extra quantity of quadrats, numerals, &c, for statistics and finance accounts, we consider £2000 as a liberal estimate of the original outlay. The space required would consist of two rooms, a compositors'room and a press room; neither of these need exceed 22 ft. by 12 ft. (Of course this would not comprise etoreage room.) We are also advised that a press, with all the necessary plant, when packed would not be bulky, not displacing more than three tons of measurement burthen. The cost of maintaining such an establishment we estimated at from £2000 to £2200 per annum, —inclusive of rent, and an allowance of 8 per cent, on original outlay—consisting of a working staff for the Session, as follows:— Government Printer £350 Clerk, Reader, and Storekeeper 200 Wages to Compositors, &c 1200 Rent and Interest 260 Contingencies, and wear and tear (5 compositors, 3 boys, 1 pressman, 1 pressman and compositor.) These estimates were carefully considered; and, after being compared with those of other

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Colonies, were unanimously adopted by the Board, shew that, for an original outlay of £2000, with an annual expenditure of £2200, exclusive of stationery, the Government could be provided with the means of efficiently carrying on the whole of their printing. Whilst we are thus satisfied that as a matter of economy it would be advisable to establish a Government Printing Press in the Colony; we respectfully submit to the consideration of the Government the following reasons which have been suggested to the Board by some of its members, why such an establishment would be conducive to the convenience of the Government. Ist. For the General Assembly in Session. Presuming that two-thirds of the staff and one of the presses were exclusively devoted to its use, the Votea and Proceedings of both Houses could be printed daily and be in members' hands generally on the morrow; reports of Select Committees would be circulated the same day; evidences before Select Committees when so ordered could be printed from day to day, and the Order Paper could always be ready the first thing in the morning. Under the present arrangement, where the printing for the Assembly is done in an establishment that publishes a bi-weekly paper, this has not hitherto been found practicable. The Government Printer would be responsible to the officers of the Assembly for the accuracy of the work done by him, for which he is supplied with a reader, and thus the piess work would not in busy times have to stand over for want of a reader at hand, nor would the clerks be called on to read the same work three times. To the General Assembly it would ensure accuracy and despatch, with economy of extra clerical assistance. 2nd. During the recess the staff would be occupied in printing the annual volumes of statistics, census forms and any other forms required by the Government, the Maori Messenger and other general printing for the Government, which promises to increase yearly. In the Attorney-General's department they are in correspondence with 94 persons who all require forms, of which in that office alone there are 160 different kinds, and there have been issued to Resident Magistrates', Coroners, &c, since 185b, including forms &c. printed at the various towns in the Provinces, no loss than a million and a half, a similar quantity it is estimated would be required for this year. It would be the duty of the Government Printer when at leasure to have a supply printed, and when required they would be sent away by him direct to the persons making the requisitions. At present the forms are sent up to the different offices and the time of the clerks is very much taken up in addresbing the parcels. A similar arrangement would exist as to the circulation by the Government Printer of all the publications of the Colony. Blue Books, Statistics, &c, as at present exists with regard to the Gazette according to an approved list supplied to him by each department, and thus also a large amount of extra clerical assistance would be economised especially at the departure of Mails. 3rd. Many of the old Ordinances still of force within the Colony are absolutely not to be had. Many of the Acts of the General Assembly are already out of print. Thirty Imperial Acts have been adopted by English Acts Acts, but are out of reach of all who do not send expressly to England for them. Many Imperial Statutes passed since 1840 extend to Her Majesty's dominions generally and Magistrates within the Colony are bound to take cognizance of them, but they only exist in the library of the General Assembly and the offices of the Attorney-General. The constant call for these render a republication of them a work of almost immediate necessity, and with this could be combined a consolidation of those later laws of the Colony which Magistrates are liable to be called upon to administer. The establishment of such a Press would enable the Government to publish the work at a less cost than at the present contract rates; and while within the reach of every Magistrate, in point of expense, it might still be sold at a price that would fairly cover all the cost of its preparation. The creation of such an establishment also would invite the more frequent publication of works such as Mr. Justice Johnston's Handbook, the Ko Nga Tuie, and works of a class of great utility to the public generally. Such are the suggestions that were submitted to invite the establishment of a I'ress as a matter of convenience. In conclusion, we considered the objection as to the difficulty of obtaining the requisite hands, but after deliberating upon it, we do not find sufficient grounds to consider it tenable. Charles Knight, Chairman. W. Gisborne, Under Secretary. Francis D. Fknton, Assistant Law Officer. R. F. Portkr, Assistant Treasurer. E. F. Campbell, Clerk General Assembly. John Cdrnin, Clerk Legislative Council.

No. 2. MR. FOX TO THE COLONIAL SECRETARY TASMANIA. New Zealand, Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 4th April, 1862. Sir — A Commission having been appointed to report to the Government as to the expediency of establishing a Government Printing Press in New Zealand, and in their investigations, having

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examined the blue books of Tasmania, find from the estimates therein, that the expenditure for theGovernment Printing Establishment in that Colony amounts to Four thousand two hundred and fifteen pounds (£4,215, Os. Od.J per annum. I have the honor on behalf of the Commission to request you would be so good as to inform me what amount of plant was originally ordered for the Government of Tasmania, what the cost of it was, and what per centage per annum it has been found necessary to allow for wear and tear. Also ] what amount of house room the Press Establishment occupies. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, William Fox. Tasmania. N.B.—A letter of similar tenor was forwarded at the same time to the Chief Secretary South Australia.

No. 3. THE ASSISTANT COLONIAL SECRETARY, TASMANIA, TO THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, NEW ZEALAND. Colonial Secretary's Office, Tasmania, 17th May, 1862. Sir,— I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 4th ultimo, soliciting information respecting the Government Printing Establishment of this Colony; and in compliance with your request, I herewith forward to you copy of a memorandum by a gentleman who has been connected with the office from the commencement, and to whom your communication was referred, in the absence of Mr. Barnard the Government Printer. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, B. Travers Tilly, Auckland, New Zealand. Assistaut Colonial Secretary.

Enclosure in No. 3. MEMORANDUM ON PRINTING ESTABLISHMENT IN TASMANIA. The cost of the original plant in London, for this department, in 1838, (calculated on a very small scale,) amounted to £1200 19s. 3d. Since then, from time to time, it has been supplemented to the extent of upwards of £3000. Supposing the amount of printing and binding required by the Government of New Zealand to be about the same as for Tasmania at this date, the cost of type, fittings, &c, for an office, I should estimate at about £5000. The wear and tear for twelve years on that amount would be about one half the original cost. The present Government Printing Office of Tasmania (which is most defective) consists of eleven rooms, occupying an area of 3107 superficial feet. The intended new Government Printing Office (estimates and plans for which have been prepared) will occupy 9171 superficial feet. I would here remark on the desirability, in the formation of a printing office, of having space as well as material, both of which resembles capital, in the management of a printing office, and will give an ample return in the saving of labour. As an illustration of the advantages to be derived by a Government having its own office, I instance this department, the printing and binding for which during the year 1801, exceeded in value £10,000, at a cost to the Government of about £4,200, But it must be understood that everything depends upon competent management. I shall have much pleasure in affording any additional information that may be deemed requisite. I have, &c, J. W. Rob arts, 3rd May, 1862. Government Printing Office.

No. 4. ASSISTANT COLONIAL SECEETAET, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, TO THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, NEW ZEALAND. Chief Secretary's Office, Adelaide, May 22nd, 1862. Sir, — I have the honor, by desire of His Excellency Sir Dominic Daly, and in furtherance of the request conveyed in your letter of the 4th April last, to enclose a report from the Government Printer of this Province, embodying the information required by the Government of New Zealand. I have, &c, To the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, 0. K. Richardson, New Zealand. For the Chief Secretary.

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Enclosure in No. 4. THB GOVERNMENT PRINTER, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, TO THE CHIEF SECRETART. Government Printing Office, Adelaide, May 20th, 1862. Sir,— I have the honor to report for the information of the Government of New Zealand, that the cost of the original plant in 1849, for the South Australian Government Printing Office, was £382 14s. lid. The size of the original building, one room, was 27 feet x 36 feet, and the annual charge for salaries, £678 ; additions have since been made to the plant, in type and machinery, to the amount of £2183 12s. 6d., and it is proposed to add about £500 worth more immediately. The buildings now occupy a space of 72 feet x 75 feet, and are divided into Compositors' and Binders' Rooms, Machinery, Store, Rack, and Fireproof Rooms. The persons employed at this date, of all descriptions, number thirty two. Wear and tear estimated at eight per cent, per annum. ■ I take this opportunity of stating, that if a few particulars were supplied as to the Legislature of New Zealand, (whether one or two houses), the average of the numbers of pages of Acts passed each Session, average size of Government Gazette, as well as of the Public Departments, the number of Post Offices, Telegraph Stations, Custom Houses, Local or District Courts, Railways, Boards, &c, it would enable mo to draw out a list of material and its cost suited to the circumutauces. The quantity and value of the original plant here cannot be a guide in the establishment of a Printing Office elsewhere, as it was indented for by a person of limited knowledge in the matter, and was found from the first to be very insufficient. I have, &c, W. C. Cox, The Hon. the Chief Secretary. Government Printer,

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