REPORT ON THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING DEPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDING 30th JUNE, 1869.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1869 Session I, D-13

D.—No. 13.

REPORT ON THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING DEPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDING 30th JUNE, 1869.

PRESENTED TO BOTH HOUSES OE THE GENEBAL ASSEMBLY, BY COMMAND OE HIS EXCELLENCY.

WELLINGTON. 1869.

D.—No. ia

Government Printing Office, Sic, — Wellington, 2nd August, 1869. I had the honor last year of submitting my first Report on the working of the Department under my control, and appending thereto Returns snowing the amount of work done, together with a statement of receipts for twelve months. I have now the honor of forwarding a similar Report for the past financial year, with a view to affording the fullest information on all matters connected with the working of the Department, and trust the result of our operations for that period will be regarded by the Government as satisfactory. In compliance with a request contained in your letter of the 16th February last, monthly Returns have been furnished showing the amount of work performed, the value of the work, the amount paid in salaries, and the number of hands employed during each month. The information contained in these Returns I have condensed into one table, and have added thereto an additional column showing the monthly receipts by the Government Printer for the past twelve Table A. months. The work the Department has been called upon to perform during the past year does not materially differ, either in description or quantity, from that performed during the previous twelve months. The following Works have been printed and published, in addition to the Forms and other Job Work performed for the several Departments of the Government throughout the Colony.-—

List of Works published at the Government Printing Office.

The above list of publications, it will be observed, includes the first part of a valuable legal work containing the cases determined before the New Zealand Court of Appeal during 1867-8. These Reports have been edited and passed through the press by Mr. Justice Johnston —a fact calculated to give additional value to the publication as a work of reference. The Reports were, , on motion of Mr. Travers, ordered by the House of Representatives to be printed in the New Zealand Gazette; but upon representing to the Government that such a mode of publication would materially detract from the value of the Reports, and render them almost inaccessible for purposes of reference, they were induced to publish them as a separate work, on the model of the English Law Reports. This plan, while adding to the usefulness of the work, has also been the means of creating a larger demand for it ; and I have no .doubt a sufficient number ot copies will be disposed of to enable the Government to recoup the outlay incurred in its publication. The Geological Reports for the past year, which are also printed in octavo form, call for a few remarks in this Report. They extend to sixty-eight pages of printed matter, and are illustrated by a series of well-executed maps and sections of the various districts reported upon. The latter have been printed at the Government Lithographic Press, and add considerably to the value of the Reports. Means have been adopted this year for making more generally known throughout the Colony the existence of these Reports, in order that a larger circulation may be secured, and the expense attending their publication in some measure reimbursed. I see no reason why the Gazette, as well as many other Government publications, should not be made self-supporting ; and, impressed with that idea, a scale of charges for advertising and subscriptions to the Gazette was prepared, whilst its columns were made use of for bringing nnder the notice of the public whatever documents and publications were for sale. The result

REPORT ON THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING DEPARTMENT.

Title of Work. Size. Number of Pages. Appendix to Journals, House of Representatives Statutes, 1868 Journals, House of Representatives Volume of Order Papers, House of Representatives Journals, Legislative Council Volume of Order Papers, Legislative Council Hansard (3 vols.) New Zealand Gazette Kahiti (Maori Gazette) Statistics Geological Reports (illustrated with ten maps) Catalogue of General Assembly Library Law Reports, Part I. Acts and. Regulations affecting Militia and Armed Constabulary Meteorological Report Eoolscap folio 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 Royal 8vo. Eoolscap folio 1,200 482 314 132 290 120 1,632 672 160 340 68 96 168 92 28 33 33 33 33 Royal 8vo. 33 33 33 33 Eoolscap 8vo. Royal 8vo.

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REPORT ON THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING DEPARTMENT.

may be regarded as highly satisfactory. Till within the last two years, the annual receipts from this source did not amount to more than £10 or £15 ; but during the year 1867-8 they amounted to £133 ss. 9d., and during the financial year just closed to £184 4s. Id. Judging from the enormous increase in the number of private advertisements received lately, I consider the receipts from this source may safely be estimated at from £450 to £500 for the present year—an amount which will repay all expenses incurred in its publication, and leave a considerable balance to its credit. With regard to the sale of Hansard, I cannot speak so favourably. The proceeds from this source during the year amounted to £80 os. lid. —being £1 18s. less than was received during the previous year. The appointment of Agents in the several Provinces —to whom copies are regularly sent for sale —affords greater facilities to the public for procuring them, and will doubtless be the means of largely increasing their sale during the present year. The very liberal free issue of the publication by the Government, as I had cause to remark last year, interferes in some degree with their sale. The work of printing the Hansard is about the heaviest the Department is called upon to perform, and from its peculiar character, and the promptitude with which it is required to be published, is about the most expensive. Returns lately prepared by order of the House, give all the details of expenditure incurred in its publication during the past two years. In these Returns the expenses are shown under the following heads, which, omitting details, I give below:—

The increase in the expenses last year are attributable to three causes —Firstly, the difficulty of procuring an efficient Reporting Staff, which resulted in Members' corrections being much heavier than would otherwise have been necessary ; secondly, the exceptionally heavy character of the debates ; and thirdly, the extension of the Session to nearly a fortnight longer than during the previous year. The time occupied in making corrections in Members'' speeches last year was 2,719 hours, representing in value £226 lis. Bd. This expense will, however, be somewhat reduced this Session, the corrections being lighter than in previous years —a fact which is due in a great measure to the improvement which has taken place in the composition of the Reporting Staff. Among the works proposed to be issued during the present year, is a second edition of Judge Johnston's " Justice of the Peace," the legislation of the last few years having rendered it necessary to make extensive alterations, both in the text of the work and in the formulary. It is proposed to divide its publication into two parts, the first of which, it is thought, will be ready for issue by the beginning of next year. The Return showing the amount of work performed during the year for the several Departments of the Public Service requires perhaps a few words of explanation in order to its being correctly understood. With reference to the " number of copies printed " it is necessary to observe that while a single page is called one copy, a large Parliamentary Paper or Bill, containing a number of pages, is also called one copy. In like manner the amount placed opposite each Department, as the charge for the printing of that particular Department during the year, shows the approximate cost only, and it is arrived at in this way : —For such works as Gazettes, Journals, Appendices, Statutes, and Statistics, a uniform charge is made, whether the page be intricate tabular work, or a heavy small-type page of solid matter. A similar rule is applied in charging for all departmental forms according to size, without regard to the type in which they may be set, or the amount of work they may contain. The Return shows the number of pages " set up" during the year to be 10,652 ; the "number of copies printed " —including every distinct publication, from a single page to the most voluminous Return presented to Parliament —as 2,956,917 ; the value of the work, estimated on the basis above given, £10,503 2s. lid. The monthly average value of work performed during the year was £875 ss. 3d., while the monthly average of salaries paid during the same period was £607 10s. The number of men and boys, by whom this work has been performed, averaged thirty-eight throughout the year. It may be interesting to show the several branches or departments into which the staff is divided. I have therefore prepared Table C, appended to this Report, showing

Table B.

Table C.

1867-8. 1868-9. Reporting Staff Printing Paper Binding £ s. d. 940 11 7 1,008 2 4 233 3 4 343 6 8 £ s. d. 1,291 12 9 1,070 19 11 279 15 9 440 0 0 Less receipts £2,525 3 11 81 18 11 £3,082 8 5 80 0 11 Totals £2,443 5 0 £3,002 7 G

D.— No. la,

REPORT ON THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING DEPARTMENT.

5

the number of hands engaged during each month throughout the year, and in what capacity they have been employed. Among the youths included in the last column but one of the Table are"three apprentices, who arc bound under indenture to the Government Printer for a term of six years; Clause V. of " The Master and Apprentice Act, 1865/' enabling any officer in the Government service having the special direction or control of persons of any particular description of trade, to take apprentices, should he deem it desirable to do so. The work of printing the Duties Stamps, performed by this Department, has not been quite so heavy during the last twelve months as in the two previous years. A Return showing in detail the number of Stamps printed, and specifying the several denominations, will be found appended (Tabic D.), from which, it will be seen that the total number of Stamps printed during the year was 1,026,700, representing in value £32,908 15s. The Stamp dies are beginning to show indications of wear, and before many months are over it will be necessary to provide a new set. Considering the amount of work they have had to perform, and the description of metal they are made of, they have worn remarkably well. The statement of the receipts of the Department for the past financial year enables mc to show a very satisfactory increase over that of the previous year. During 1867-8 the gross receipts amounted to £491 Is. 2d., while during 1868-9 they reached £716 18s. 7d., being an increase over the previous year's receipts of £225 17s. sd. lam fully justified by the great increase m the number of Gold Mining Companies, and from other sources, m estimating the gross receipts for 1869-70 at £1,000. The following is a statement of the receipts for the past year under the several heads specified :■ —■

Table D.

The average monthly receipts for the year, therefore, have been £57 10s., while those for 1867-8 averaged £40 18s. sd. The supply of printing paper is an important item in connection with the Printing Department The quantity of paper consumed during the year, and the cost of the same, are shown in the Return marked E. appended to this Report, on reference to which it will be found that it amounted in value to £2,992 7s. 3d. A considerable reduction m the price of printing papers to be supplied during the year 1869-70 has been effected, by the system of calling for tenders seven or eight months in advance, and separating the printing papers from the miscellaneous stationery. This plan is adopted in most of the Australian Colonies, and, upon my pointing out its advantages to the Government, it was introduced here. When reporting on the Stationery tenders in December of last year, I had occasion to remark, with reference to the tenders for printing papers, " that the plan of separating the general stationery from the supplies required for " the Printing Department, and allowing the contractors sufficient time to import the articles " from England after the acceptance of the tender, has enabled a larger number to compete, " and has resulted in a saving of £249 14s. 9d., or at the rate of 10 per cent., on the present " contract rates for the same descriptions of paper." A considerable saving in the consumption of paper and m printing might be effected it the number of Parliamentary Papers required for circulation were reduced. The ordinary number of each paper printed during the Session is 1,150, being nearly 400 more than is printed off m Victoria. A great number of these papers arc circulated gratuitously throughout the Colony and elsewhere ; but now that proper arrangements are made for their sale, the gratuitous circulation might be considerably reduced, as instances have come under my notice of parties who were quite willing to purchase them if not supplied at the Government expense. The amount of correspondence on business matters connected with the Gazette and the various agencies is becoming very voluminous. The number of letters received by me during the last year was 694, exclusive of all correspondence with the respective Agents m the Provinces. These letters entail a considerable amount of labour upon the head of the Department, who, unassisted by a clerk, performs the duty of replying and otherwise attending to them. The transactions are also of such a character as to render it necessary to keep a set of books m addition to the ordinary cash book kept by all Receivers of Revenue—an undertaking which adds considerably to the duties of the Government Printer.

Table E,

Amount. Gazette Advertisements and Subscriptions Sale of Statutes Sale of Parliamentary Papers Sale of Hansard Sale of other Publications Miscellaneous Receipts ... £ s. d. 189 4 1 221 13 0 30 17 11 80 0 11 159 0 0 36 2 8 Less Commission 716 18 7 26 6 7 Paid into Bank to credit of Public Account 690 12 0

D.—No. 13

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REPORT ON THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING- DEPARTMENT.

It is but right that I should draw the attention of the Government to the very efficient services rendered by the Overseers and Readers in the Department, and the desire evinced by all, without exception, to forward the work during the hurry and turmoil of the Session. The responsible and confidential nature of many of the duties imposed upon me required not only the exercise of faithfulness and caution in the head of the Department, but of trustworthiness and fidelity in the Workmen; and in this respect I have not had a single cause of complaint against any of them. I am not aware of any other subject calling for special notice in.this Report, and feel conscious of having but very imperfectly touched upon many of the subjects which have come under review. I must plead the many claims upon my time and attention during the Session as my excuse, they having rendered it a matter of great difficulty to compile the Returns and group together the information contained'herein. The proposed inquiry into the working of the Department by the Reporting Committee rendered it obligatory upon me to prepare the statistical information herein given, which it is thought may possibly answer the end proposed by the inquiry. Should it not do so, I can only say that any further information I may be in a position to give will be most willingly rendered. I have, &c, Geo. Didsbury, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Government Printer.

Table A. RETURN showing the Quantity and Value of Work performed in the Government Printing Department; also, the Amount paid as Salaries, and the net Amount of Receipts by the Government Printer, for the Financial Year ended 30th June, 1869.

Table B. RETURN showing the Amount of Work performed for the several Departments during the Financial Year ended 30th June, 1869.

Month. Number of Page3. Number of Copies Printed. Value of Work. Amount of Salaries paid (including Overtime). Amount of Ecceipts »y Government Printer from Sale of Documents, &c. July 1868 August „ September „ October „ November „ December „ January 1869 Eebrnary „ March „ April „ May „ June ,, Alterations and Corrections during the year (exclusive of Hansard), 760 hours Cancelled matter Printing Duty Stamps, per Return attached 1,287 1,135 1,607 1,449 840 574 497 776 478 390 706 913 145,054 81,500 111,773 191,610 330,456 186,618 289,546 209,604 315,288 532,432 425,444 137,592 £ s. d. 1,291 1 8 977 14 2 1,304 11 4 1,058 14 10 692 2 0 590 14 6 611 19 0 815 3 2 600 1 8 667 16 6 916 7 3 847 10 2 £ s. d. 781 19 10 1,021 8 0 982 7 1 840 4 6 443 15 6 363 3 4 363 3 4 423 15 10 359 18 4 352 3 4 527 9 4 880 12 8 £ s. d. 93 7 4 64 17 0 35 10 3 37 8 4 G6 8 1 42 10 10 44 15 5 55 11 5 21 6 9 115 13 9 52 4 4 60 18 6 63 6 8 12 0 0 54 0 0 Totals ... 10,652 2,956,917 7,290 1 1 690 12 0 10,503 2 11

Oepaetment. Number of Pages. Number of Copies Printed. Value of Wort. House of Representatives Legislative Council Colonial Secretary Treasury Audit Registrar-General Crown Lands Stamp Printing Geological Judicial Postal '... Telegraph Marine Engineer Customs Native Colonial Defence Miscellaneous Corrections and Alterations, Printing Duty Stamps, &c. 6,980 561 833 237 2 297 80 45 165 200 380 349 42 18 60 176 211 16 539,551 31,147 110,764 206,581 200 67,260 26,726 50,520 19,341 11,771 314,558 001,136 714,908 8,950 112,226 44,150 77,908 19,220 £ s. d. 5,760 5 8 530 18 0 868 1 8 312 0 6 17 0 350 10 0 87 12 0 66 18 10 76 5 10 103 9 2 466 0 6 628 3 6 569 18 9 15 13 6 121 10 10 221 5 0 165 10 6 32 5 0 129 6 8 Amount paid as wages during the year 10,652 2,956,917 10,503 2 11 7,200 1 1 Monthly average Value of Work performed during the year ... Monthly average of Wages paid during same period Monthly average of Receipts by Government Printer ... £875 5 3 ... 607 10 0 57 11 0

D.— No. 13.

Table C. TABLE showing the Number of Hands employed during each Month throughout the Year 1868-9 (exclusive of the Government Printer).

Table D. RETURN of Duties Stamps issued from the Government Printing Department during the Year ended 30th June, 1869.

Table E. RETURN showing the Quantity of Paper consumed in the Government Printing Office, together with the Cost of the same, for the Financial Year ended 30th June, 1869.

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REPORT ON THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING DEPARTMENT.

Month. Overseers. Readers. Compositors. Pressmen. Machinist. Engineer. Apprentices, Machine and Errand Boys. Total. July 1868 ... August „ ... September „ ... October ,, November „ ... December ,, ... January 1869 ... Eebruary ,, March „ ... April „ May „ ... June „ 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 L 1 1 2 27 30 29 28 21 14 14 14 14 14 20 28 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 10 10 10 9 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 10 46 49 43 46 37 30 30 30 30 30 36 •17

Denomination. Number of Stamps. Value. One Penny One Shilling Two Shillings Two Shillings and Sixpence... Three Shillings Eour Shillings Eive Shillings Twenty Shillings Pine Paid 820,500 101,000 25,000 3,600 15,200 15,800 25,000 10,300 10,300 £ s. d. 3,418 15 0 5,050 0 0 2,500 0 0 450 0 0 2,280 0 0 3,160 0 0 5,750 0 0 10,300 0 0 Totals 1,026,700 32,908 15 0

Eeams. Description of Paper. ltate per Eeam. Amount. 1,843 438 60 584 67 15 61 190 20 7 66 9 5 6 12 7 252 329 Yellow wove Double Eoolscap ,, ,, Royal 3, Demy Blue wove Double Eoolscap Blue laid Demy „ „ Post folio ,, ,, Foolscap Cream Laid Eoolscap ,, ,, ,, (faint ruled) ,3 33 Demy „ „ ,, Post folio „ „ Post octavo Hand-made Imperial „ „ Demy Blue Double Demy Cartridge Skins Parchment, 28 x 32 „ „ 18 x 27 £ s. d. 0 16 4 0 16 11 0 12 1 10 5 12 6 10 0 0 14 9 0 15 9 0 16 8 12 6 10 0 0 4 9 4 0 0 34 0 0 112 17 6 0 2 8 0 13 £ s. d. 1,505 2 4 370 9 6 36 5 0 596 3 4 75 7 6 15 0 0 44 19 9 149 12 6 16 13 4 7 17 6 66 0 0 2 2 9 20 0 0 10 4 0 12 14 0 9 12 6 33 12 0 20 11 3 2,992 7 3