THE CANTERBURY GOVERNMENT PRINTING.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4193, 28 August 1874, Page 2

THE CANTERBURY GOVERNMENT PRINTING.

TO THE EDITOR. Sib, —In. the telegraphic report, which appeared in the Lyttelton Times on Friday last, of the proceedings of the General Assembly, Mr. Reeves, the member for Selwyn, is reported to have “ explained that the charge against him’ of being a Provincial contractor was untrue. In consequence of these miserable charges, his firm had not for years tendered for the Provincial Government printing. They had not done so for several years.” How far Mr. Reeves’s explanation is correct your readers can judge by the following statement of facts :—ln the Appendix of the published “ Proceedings of the Provincial Council of Canterbury, Session XXXIX.,” wi[l be found a return of the printing tenders sent in to the Provincial Government in the year 1873, and amongst those named as tendering is the Lyttelton Times (Mr. Reeves’s firm.) Again, the Provincial Canterbury Gazettes, issued by the Provincial Government during the years 1870, 1871, 1872, 1873, and up to April 25 of this year, 1874, are all noted as being “printed under the authority of the Provincial Government of the Province of Canterbury, by William Reeves, Official Printer for the time being to the said Government.”

I think it will be found that Mr.-Reeves’s firm have always tendered for the Provincial printing; except, perhaps, for this year, and that exception may be accounted for by the fact that a gentleman who is understood to be a member of Mr Reeves’s firm is a paid political member of the Provincial Government. —I am, &c., A Canterbury Elector. August 24. . N. B.—l enclose my card.