THE PAPER SHORTAGE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 212, 2 June 1920, Page 7

THE PAPER SHORTAGE

GOVERNMENT PAPERS AND STATIONERY

MINISTER TRYING ECONOMIES

Tho -extravagance of all Government Departments in the use of stationary and tho heavy cost incurred m the production of practically all Government publications have long been evidont to those interested. Tho smallest memo, is incst often sot out on a full sheet of foli'6 size, and thore are files weighing several pounds consisting almost wholly of sheets about one-fourth, covered with • tvpe-written matter. Time was when and paper wero cheap, and these extravagances were not very much felt, but now, when tho cheapest white paper costs nearly ft shilling a pound, the waste lias to'bo considered. All private 'business firms have already taken stops to reduce consumption of stationory, and for similar communications uso ordinarily no moro than from a half to a third of the amount of paper used by the Government. So also with Government publications, papers of Quito doubtful value are printed and incorporated in the appendices, often with expensive illustrations on art paper. Most of the reports are at least twice as long as they need be. The Gazette is a publication which absorbs a great deal of paper every week. Archaic forms have been preserved in the presentation of Government information which is not affected by any other country in the world in these times. It is a paper with n big unpaid circulation, and the cost of it .to the State is very heavy. The new Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. G. J. Andersen) has embarked on an economy campaign, and for the present lie is investigating the possibili■tties of saving paper in publications and in stationery. An effort will bo made to induce Departments to cut down consumption of paper, and some saving will be made in publications, at least until the price of paper drops a. good deal, and supplies arc more assured. Unless there prove to be any legal bar to change in forms, the Gazette will be brought out in much smaller issues, more after the 6tyle adopted in other countries. Another reason for reduction of publications is pressure in the Printing Office, which has been for several years now a problem more or less acute. If tho Minuter succeeds in his endeavour, it is quite possible to save many thousands of pounds, without any loss whatsoever in efficiency or usefulness.