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Consul Griffin's " Commerce and Besources of New Zealand," the manuscript is handed to the Government for printing, and in some cases the author receives a certain number of copies for disposal, but he does not receive any direct payment for the work. The Government recoup expenses by the sale of the work. 406. Does the return usually cover the cost of printing?—ln some cases it exceeds it. In others Ido not think it does quite, because the Government issue such a large number of free copies. In regard to the work on orange-culture, I think the Government distributed a thousand copies free. In such a case the cost of printing cannot be recouped. 407. Mr. Samuel.] But there is another object—the dissemination of knowledge? —That is exactly it. It was necessary the book just referred to should be distributed at a particular time in order to save the season; otherwise the object would have been lost. Mr. Alderton, the author of " Orange-culture in New Zealand," received, I think, a bonus of £50 for preparing the work, and also had his passage paid to Sydney and back in order that he might gain knowledge on the subject. 408. Certain witnesses have said that the Government compete with private offices in this kind of work, and it follows that if they are not paid by the authors for printing these works then the objection falls to the ground. Do the Government receive payment for printing these works, save in so far as the sale of copies is concerned ?—No ; they receive nothing. 409. The Chairman.] Would you like to supplement your evidence by any statement ?—I would like to point out that the work done in the Government Brinting Office could be done very much cheaper than it is, provided the accommodation were improved and the machinery which I consider necessary were procured, as well as a large addition made to our stock of type. With regard to the system adopted, I do not think there is any suggestion I have to make by which any considerable reduction in expenditure in printing could be effected, further than this: that a very large quantity of parliamentary papers, Bills, and things of that kind come in for printing and are circulated free. I daresay a good many of them might be very much curtailed, and a saving thus effected. Very often I have supplies of those papers remaining on hand after the session, and they eventually find their way into the waste-paper bin and thence to the paper-mill. That is the only direction in which at present I can suggest any saving. 410. Mr. Samuel.] Supposing you got this extra plant and accommodation, could you not also do the railway work, which is now given out, at a considerable saving to the Government on the present cost ?—Yes, I think so. 411. Mr. Bruce.] I understand you to say, Mr. Didsbury, amongst other things, that, owing to the corrections and extensions involved in letting out printing by tender, there might be a considerable loss as compared with the present system ?—I pointed out that in the matter of corrections and compressions we printed at the Government Office to greater advantage than would be the case if the work were given out to private offices. 412. Would not the advertising involved by letting out the work add much to the cost? —No doubt that is an expense that would have to be incurred, as well as the preparation of specifications. 413. In the event of a quantity of the work being let by tender, and the consequent dispersion of a number of your hands, it would be impossible to get them together again when you wanted them for tabular work ? —Yes : I should very likely have to put up with an inferior staff of workmen, which, of course, would mean a very considerable addition to the expense of the establishment. 414. Do you not think it would be possible for the Government to keep pace with the times in the matter of machinery?—l think it is the duty of the Government to provide all necessary appliances of the very best class for doing the work. In some private offices a very large expenditure is incurred in machinery. For instance, Messrs. Wilsons and Horton (Auckland Herald) have lately introduced one of the web printing-machines at a cost of something like £3,000 or £4,000 ; and if private firms go to that expense to keep up with the times I think it is equally the duty of the Government to do so. 415. You have spoken of the question of space. If you had a larger building could you do the work more economically ?—Undoubtedly so. The want of accommodation is a serious drawback, and causes delay in getting out the work, especially in the binding-room and in the girls' room—in fact, throughout the whole establishment we have that inconvenience to contend with. Nothing contributes so much to expedition as plenty of room and light, and those are matters in which we are deficient at present. We have to burn gas in some rooms all day long, which not only pollutes the atmosphere, but causes additional expense. It is impossible to do satisfactory work under such circumstances. 416. Is it the case that some of your machinery is not sufficiently protected ?—lt is. There have been occasional accidents, the result of the machines being in too close proximity to each other. The Inspector of Machinery has drawn attention to the matter; but it cannot be remedied till more room is provided. 417. I believe it was asserted by some of the witnesses that the atmosphere was so foul that it had seriously affected the health of a number of the employes. Is that so'?—l certainly think it has. During some sessions I have had four or five men away at one time ; and in the girls' room there, have been three or four away together through illness. •1-18. What was the nature of their illness ? —Colds and lung complaints, owing to the pestilential atmosphere. I believe it was the cause of death in some cases. 419. The Chairman.] What are your arrangements for buying paper; do you make favourable terms ? —At present the paper is purchased from one of the wholesale manufacturers at Home — James Spicer and Sons —at something like 18 per cent, cheaper than the price paid when the Agent-General tendered for supplies at Home. The supplies in former years used to be tendered for by the Agent-General, and, to my surprise, the representative of one of the firms who tendered for the goods told ine he was prepared to supply them at 10 per cent, lower than the lowest 6

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