GOVERNMENT PRINTING DEPARTMENT.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1873 Session I, H-21

1873. NEW ZEALAND.

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GOVERNMENT PRINTING DEPARTMENT.

(REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30THE JUNE, 1873.)

Presented to loth Souses of the General Assembly by command of Sis Excellency. Government Printing Office, Sir,— Wellington, 30th August, 1873. I have the honor to transmit the Annual Eeturn, showing the quantity and value of work executed at the Printing Office for the several Departments during the past financial year; also, the Balance Sheets for the Printing Office, Binding Branch, and Lithographic Branch; and a Statement showing the value of the Stock on the 30th June last. With reference to the Eeturn of Work executed, it is necessary I should point out that in the early part of the present year the whole of the plant and material had to be temporarily removed to the rooms vacated by the Audit Department in Molesworth Street, where operations had to be carried on while the additions to the Printing Office were in course of erection. The Molesworth Street rooms were occupied by the Department for a period extending over three months, and the inconvenience experienced during that time had the effect of somewhat lessening the total value of the work for the year, the amount being £11,593 6s. 9d., as against £12,302 3s. 2d. for the previous year—thus showing a decrease of £708 16s. sd. The amount paid in wages, however, was less by £317 2s. Bd. than in 1871-72. The drawbacks alluded to above will readily account for the difference in value in the Work Eeturn—the difference in the amount paid in wages being also considered. This deficiency has, however, been counterbalanced by a large increase in the net receipts of the Department for the past year. On account of sale of public documents, Gazette advertisements, Ac, £981 Is. Id. has been received ; and on Land Transfer advertisements (paid through the Land Transfer Department to Public Account), £203 18s. lOd.; showing a net increase in the receipts for the year of £472 9s. On examination of the amounts charged to the respective Departments on account of work performed, it will be observed that the printing for the General Assembly last year exceeded in value that of the previous year by £758 Is. 3d. The largest increase occurs under the head of " Bills," which are valued at £1,711 lis. 7d., as against £1,183 10s. 2d., thus showing an increase of £528 Is. sd. during the past year under this head alone. With reference to Parliamentary printing, I may observe that the plan adopted this Session of dispensing with the fly leaf, or title page, to Parliamentary Papers will effect a considerable saving in the cost of paper, presswork, and binding—an amount, calculated on the basis of last year's Appendices, of fully £440. The number of Parliamentary Papers which the extensive free issue in this Colony renders it necessary to print—a number largely in excess of those printed in the Australian Colonies—adds materially to the cost of printing and binding, and largely increases the consumption of printing paper. In Victoria only 750 copies are printed of all papers presented by command ; in New South Wales, 950 copies; while in New Zealand the average for the present year is 1,300 copies. The Balance Sheet of the Department for the past year will, I trust, be regarded as satisfactory. Notwithstanding the drawbacks we have had to contend with, and the exceptionally heavy charges placed to the debit of the Department on account of additions to buildings, purchase of type and machinery, Ac, it still shows a net profit for the year of £1,299 ss. 7d. Every item which a private printer would take into account when preparing his balance sheet has been carefully noted, while the books kept in the office afford the fullest information as to the details under the several heads of expenditure enumerated. The scale of prices at which the value of work is computed was printed with the report presented last year ; and although the Government are paying considerably higher prices to private printers in Wellington for certain descriptions of work, I have not thought it desirable to alter the scale in accordance therewith, as any alteration would render a comparison of the results of our labours between this and previous years impossible. The Building and Stock Account shows an increased value of £2,784 18s. sd. Deducting, however, the sum of £627 3s. 7d., which represents the value of the Binding plant and building, the total increase in the value of the Printing Office building and plant is £2,157 14s. lOd. If, therefore, to this amount the net profit for the year is added (£1,299 ss. 7d.), tho total amount to the credit of the Department at the close of the financial year would be £3,457 Os. sd. The additions and alterations which have been made in the office during the past year consist in the erection of an additional storey on the old building, and the re-arrangement of the rooms on the ground floor. By these means additional accommodation is provided in the composing rooms, reading rooms, machine and press rooms. The stock has also been considerably augmented by the purchase of machinery and type. The additions to the machinery consist of a double-royal Wharfdale printing machine, and three small treadle machines, varying in size from demy folio to foolscap folio. One of Furnival and Co's. largest

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size paper-cutting machines has been procured, which is fitted to work by steam ; while about 4 tons 3 cwt. of type have been added to the plant during the year. I would here beg to observe that the resources of the Department, though largely augmented during the past year, are in many respects unequal to the strain put upon them during the Session. I have before pointed out, and desire again to do so, that so long as orders are received from so many different sources, occasions will arise when, by the simultaneous receipt of extensive orders, the Printing Office will for a time be choked with work. This would occasionally occur even were the plant and premises double their present size. And notwithstanding the exertions made by the Department to meet the requirements of tho Government, when such occasions do arise, it is not always possible to comply with those demands with the rapidity and promptitude expected. Binding Beanch. With a view to reduce the expense of binding, and facilitate the early distribution of Parliamentary Papers, a proposal was made, which met the approval of Government, to organize a small binding staff in connection with the Printing Office. The necessary material and tools having been procured from Melbourne, operations were commenced in this branch in May last, with what results the balance sheet appended to this Beport clearly demonstrates. The amount paid in wages from 3rd May to 30th June—barely two months —was £117 18s. 6d., while the value of work done during the same period, computed at the rates paid to the contractor for the same description of work, amounted to £262. A very considerable saving may therefore be anticipated by the establishment of this branch. Steeeottpe and Electeottpe Beanch. The operations carried on in this branch have been extended during the past year. Lead moulds having been procured from England, the whole of the leads required in the Printing Office are now being manufactured on the premises. The electrotype dies for the new halfpenny newspaper stamp, which came into operation in January last, were also executed in this branch of the Department. Hitherto the Government have been under the necessity of sending to Melbourne and Sydney for the electrotypes required for stamp-printing purposes, for which a charge of five shillings per die has been made. The 240 halfpenny dies electrotyped and mounted here, represent, according to Melbourne and Sydney prices, a value of £60; while the total cost of their production here did not exceed £15. Stamp Pbinting Beanch. The rapidly increasing demand for postage stamps has rendered the present mode of printing (by the copper-plate process) inadequate to raise the stock above what is barely necessary to meet the requisitions sent in. As the steel plates at present in use are nearly worn out, orders were sent to England about twelve months ago for a set of electrotype plates to replace them. These have been procured from Messrs. De La Bue and Co., and have just arrived in Wellington by the " Lennox Castle." A sufficient stock of the stamps will be printed from these plates for circulation on the Ist of January next. By printing from electrotypes, the rate of production, as compared with copperplate printing, will be nearly trebled. Lithogeaphic Beanch. A balance sheet for this branch has been prepared, and will be found appended to this Beport. The value of work executed during the year amounted to £1,001 16s. lOd.; the expenses (including an outlay of £140 3s. 7d. for additions to plant) to £633 4s. 7d. This branch, therefore, shows a net profit for the year of £368 12s. 3d. Photo-Lithogeaphic Beanch. The adoption of the photo-lithographic process in this Colony was first suggested by Dr. Hector, at whose request the Hon. Mr. Vogel, when in England, caused inquiries to be made with the object of obtaining information respecting the cost of the necessary apparatus, the nature of the process, and its adaptability for the reproduction of railway plans, maps, and other drawings. An order was sent to England for the chemicals and apparatus included in the list appended to the report by Mr. E. Fox on this subject, and steps were taken, immediately upon their arrival, to procure tho services of a gentleman possessed of the requisite technical knowledge to fill the office of photo-lithographer. The difficulty of obtaining such an officer was overcome through the kindness of Mr. Noon, the photo-lithographer to the Victorian Government, who offered to select a photographer in Melbourne, and give him a month's instruction in his department before sending him to New Zealand. This, at tho request of the Government of this Colony, he accordingly did, and Mr. Deverill, the gentleman selected, arrived here in April last to take charge of the branch. The necessary rooms having been erected on an elevated spot near the Printing Office, operations were commenced in May last by photographing a series of drawings of fossils for the Geological Department. The plans and drawings attached to the Patent Specifications are now being executed, in accordance with a resolution of the House of Representatives. The Public Works Department is also making extensive use of the system in the reproduction of railway plans and sections, &c. Maps which, before its introduction, cost three or four months' labour to execute, can now be photographed and reproduced in as many hours. As this branch of the Department becomes better known, and the advantages of photo-lithography receive the test of experience, the saving in draftsmen's labour which the process is capable of effecting will be satisfactorily demonstrated. Having now passed in review the various branches connected with the Department I have the honor to manage, I have nothing further to add than the hope that the result of its operations for the past year may be regarded as satisfactory by the Government. I have, &c, Geoege Didsbuet, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Government Printer.

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RETURN showing the QUANTITY and VALUE of WORK executed at the GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE for the several Departments, during the Year ended 30th June, 1873.

Department, &c. Number OE Value. Impressions. £ s. d. Audit 3,956 20 7 5 Armed Constabulary... 22,094 16 2 0 Attorney-General 500 4 7 6 Annuities 131,455 128 3 7 Colonial Secretary—Miscellaneous 17,000 98 18 2 „ Gazette ... 336,939 857 13 2 Customs 72,084 60 14 4 Colonial Architect 1,196 32 14 8 Crown Lands 13,819 33 14 4 Commissioner of Native Reserves 1,500 10 0 „ Confiscated Lands 3,250 3 4 0 Defence 25,295 33 6 8 Distilleries ... 12,281 15 5 10 Governor's Establishment 2,800 3 17 0 Geological ... ... ... General Assembly :— 19,116 166 10 6 House of Representatives—Order Paper 39,904 211 7 6 „ Parliamentary Papers 616,055 2,341 18 10 „ Reports 1,148 19 4 6 „ Journal 18,538 226 15 6 „ Statutes 307,832 625 14 6 „ Miscellaneous 17,567 59 3 5 Legislative Council—Order Paper ... ,, Papers and Reports 26,113 127 3 9 198 14 4 18,869 „ Journal 8,501 196 19 2 „ Miscellaneous... 3,361 13 0 0 Bills 64,160 1,711 11 7 Mansard 348,916 1,222 19 8 Inspector of Stores ... 14,337 16 4 4 Immigration 115,936 74 12 8 Inspector of Militia and Volunteers Judicial 6,956 10 9 6 268 5 3 149,506 Land Transfer 25,860 36 15 10 Miscellaneous 13,469 81 1 2 Marine 15,101 22 17 2 Native 100,981 317 17 0 Native Land Court ... 4,000 27 14 0 Postal 291,503 290 1 8 ,, Money Order Branch ... 165,269 137 16 0 „ Savings Bank Branch ... 69,009 75 7 8 Printing • ... Public Works 16,214 20 19 2 53,151 244 14 4 Public Trustee 8,300 10 7 4 Registrar-General 122,448 346 3 6 Stamp 41,528 120 14 0 Telegraph ... 1,120,660 613 14 8 Treasury 446,152 420 14 7 Patents Office 1,732 26 5 0 Totals 4,916,251 11,593 6 9 Number of pages, 11,253.

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DR. BALANCE SHEET of the GOVERNMENT PRINTING DEPARTMENT, for the Year ended 30th June, 1873. PRINTING BRANCH.

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DR. LITHOGRAPHIC BRANCH. CR.

BUILDING AND STOCK ACCOUNT.

No. of Copies. Value. £ s. d. £ s. d. 481 6 0 Value of Work executed during year 174,382 850 1,001 16 10 Salaries Additions to Plant 140 3 7 Materials and Sundry Expenses ... 11 15 0 Net Profits for year ended 30th June, 1873 ... 633 4 7 Total ... 368 12 3 Total ... 1,001 16 10 174,382 850 1,001 16 10

£ s. d. £ s. d. Value of Buildings at commencement of year ... 780 19 6 Additions to Buildings, Gas, and other Fittings 709 2 0 Estimated Value of Plant at commencement of year 1,490 1 6 2,855 15 2 Additions during year 1,763 17 11 4,619 13 1 Value of Stereotype Plant at commencement of year 54 7 3 Additions during year 7 17 6 Estimated Value of Serviceable Plates on 30th June, 1873 208 0 0 270 4 9 Value of Binding Plant 212 3 7 Proportion of Additions to Buildings ... 415 0 0 627 3 7 Depreciation, at 10 per cent, per annum 7,007 2 11 *394 0 2 Total 6,613 2 9 * Thi s sum is adjusted to cover the various periods for which depreciatio in can be allowed. [Price 6i.] By Authority: Giobgx Didsbdet, GoYernment Printer, Wellington. .—1873.