D.—No. 13

6

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