PRINTING AND STATIONERY DEPARTMENT (ANNUAL REPORT ON THE).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1889 Session I, H-24

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1889. NEW ZEALAND.

PRINTING AND STATIONERY DEPARTMENT (ANNUAL REPORT ON THE).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

Sic, — Printing and Stationery Department, Wellington, 29th July, 1889. I have the honour to submit my annual report on the operations of the Printing and Stationery Department for the year 1888. The New Pbinting Office. The new Printing Office was sufficiently advanced towards completion to enable tho staff to occupy it in September last. The moving was effected as expeditiously as possible, and no serious inconvenience was experienced by the interruption to work necessarily involved in removing tho large quantity of material and machinery from the old building. The employes are now in a position to perform their duties under greatly improved conditions, and possess conveniences which enhance the productive power of the staff. The heating arrangements are working satisfactorily, and, though special furnaces and steam-generators were provided by Mr. Asbury with the plant, they are not now used, one of the boilers erected for driving purposes being found sufficient to generate steam for the combined purposes of heating, driving, and lighting. The saving of fuel effected by dispensing with the second furnace is considerable. The amount of coal consumed during the months when the steam heater and electric light were not used averaged little more than 2J tons per week; while during the session, with longer hours, and the heater and electric-light apparatus at work, the average consumption is under 5 tons per week, and the cost about £21 per month. The electric light is worked by the engineer attached to the department, who has introduced ■several improvements in the method of connecting the leads with the pendants, making new brushes for the dynamo, &c, and has worked the light with the most satisfactory results. A 240-light dynamo is used, but never worked to its full capacity, there being seldom any occasion to use more than 220 lights at any one time. "Gazette" and Pabliamentaky-papeb Feee-list. During the past year a revision of the free-list has been made on the lines indicated in the report of the Printing Committee of the House of Eepresentatives in December, 1887, and has resulted in the following reductions being made : — In Gazette addresses ... ... ... ... ... ... 353 „ Parliamentary papers ... ... ... ... ... ... 76 „ Hansard ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 41 Of bound copies of Hansard, Statutes, Journals, and Appendices (House of Eepresentatives), twentyfour addresses have been removed. The issue of Statistics, being under the direction of the Registrar-General, has not been dealt with. The value represented by the cancelled addresses is about £200. The issue of the Gazette is now made in accordance with the classification given below: —

*3 1 I H 'I S5 a Jp ■3 1 in 1 f p I I Q I I O Ministers, Under-Secretaries, &c. Members of Legislature Departmental officers Justices of the Peace .. Local bodies, libraries, &c. Newspapers Consuls, &c. Subscribers Foreign issue .. .. % Bound copies for Departments, &c, and surplus copies for stock 11 79 136 160 19 4 13 1 12 17 50 4 2 27 50 43 7 10 43 118 33 16 3 7 4 29 29 65 12 15 22 12 4 2 28 22 •■ 7 7 15 60 116 71 16 3 11 14 116 ' 149 96 28 68 59 409 659 537 113 10 48 49 "3 "l 2 11 349 Total 2,300

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New Work undertaken. During the past year the printing for the New Zealand Railways has been undertaken by this department at prices considerably under those formerly paid to contractors. The work of the Government Insurance Department (or, at least, a considerable portion of it) is also done here, at prices which that department regards as satisfactory. During the past year the Telegraph Department requested me to undertake the printing of the telegraph forms, and an order for 16,000,000 was accordingly executed. The facilities afforded by the improved accommodation in the machineroom and binding branch now enable me to deal promptly and efficiently with orders which could not be undertaken in the old office. In the machine-room, for instance, there are now fourteen machines, nearly all of which are constantly running. Recent Publications issued. Among the new books issued from this department since my last report may be mentioned the " Transactions of the New Zealand Institute." The printing of this annual publication was for the first two or three years undertaken by this department: owing, however, to sessional and other demands interfering with its prompt issue, the printing had to be done elsewhere, but now, after the lapse of about twelve or thirteen years, the work has again been resumed by this department. The volume made 574 pages. I have received a communication from the Director of the Institute, written at the request of the Board, expressing their satisfaction at the manner in which the work was turned out. As evidence of the skill and care exercised by the proof-readers in the Government office, I may mention that a scientific gentleman who contributes largely to the work stated that in eighty pages sent to him for revision he did not detect a single error. The " Forest Flora of New Zealand," by T. Kirk, F.L.S., has recently. been.completed. It is a foolscap folio volume, printed on toned paper in pica type, and is profusely illustrated by 142 plates. In order to bring this valuable work within the reach of all, the very moderate price of 12s. 6d. has been fixed for it. A large demand is anticipated for the work, not only in New Zealand, but also in the Australian Colonies. " A Miners' Guide," by H. A. Gordon, is among the more recent works issued, which also contains numerous plates, and has been written with the object of placing within easy reach of those who wish to qualify themselves as mine-managers in New Zealand such information as is required to pass the examinations prescribed in the Mining and Coal-mines Acts of 1886. Two publications have been issued on the subject of the dairy industry in New Zealand —one being a " Report on Dairy-factories," by R. M. McCalhun, consisting of 44 pages ; the other, "Reports on the Relation of Dairy-produce of New Zealand to the English Market," by Professor Long, consisting of 108 pages. Both these publications have been extensively and gratuitously circulated in the colony, 10,000 copies of each having been, printed for that purpose. Electobal-koll Pbinting. I pointed out in a former report the economic results likely to be achieved by the purchase of sufficient type and material to set up the whole of the electoral rolls of the colony at the Government office, and the keeping of the type standing to make the necessary alterations after each periodical revision. This course is followed in New South Wales, and I now find that in the recently-established Government Printing Department of the Dominion of Canada the same plan has been adopted. In the report recently issued by the Canadian Government Printing Office I find the results of printing the voters' lists by the department are given in detail, and are so extraordinary that I may be excused for quoting them. The lists for the seven provinces contain 971,899 names, making 6,418 pages of double-demy quarto. The printing took nine months, twenty-five to fiftyfive compositors being employed thereon; and the total cost, without including plant, was $22,463-90, or at the rate of $3-50 per page. The cost of the type and material required was $63,849-80. Total, $86,304-70. The printing of the voters' lists in 1886, before the establishment of the Government office, was $106,863-24 ; so that the net gain, after paying for plant as well as labour, was $20,549-54. I do not anticipate such favourable results to follow the adoption of the plan in this colony, as the competition for printing the rolls has been keen, and prices in many cases cut very low; but that a substantial saving in the cost would be insured is unquestionable, and after the first setting-up the work could be done at one-fourth the cost under the present system. Annual Returns. The annual balance-sheet of the department will be found appended to this report, from which it will be seen that the total value of work done during the year was £24,043 Is. 3d. The cash receipts amounted to £2,798 10s. lid., being an increase of £100 18s. lid. as compared with the previous year. The Profit and Loss Account shows a profit to credit of colony of £7,539 19s. lid. In the Stock and Buildings Account the value of the new office is taken on charge, the cost being £18,309. The value of plant (including additions to the amount of £852 15s. 7d. during the year) stood at £14,459 on 31st December last, after allowing for depreciation. In the Salaries Account it will be observed that the wages amounted to £15,696 6s. 2d., as against £15,965 16s. 9d. for the previous year. The overtime paid amounted to £820, as against £1,170 18s. Id. for the previous year. The total expenditure on salaries and overtime was therefore less than the previous year by £620 Bs. 3d. In the Working Expenses Account there is a noticeable reduction in the items fuel and gas, which together amounted to £451 4s. 9d., as compared with £603 6s. 4d. during the previous year. The return of the number of employes during each month of the year shows an average per month of 135. The highest number employed was 153, and the lowest 120.

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The number of vouchers for printing and advertising examined during the year in the accountant's office was 3,322; the deductions made therefrom, £109 65.; and the total amount passed for payment, £8,546 13s. Id. Stbbbotype Branch. The number of stereotype plates cast last year was 1,352; of electrotypes, 1,299 ; and 411b. of leads of various sizes were cast for office use. The number of rubber stamps manufactured for Government departments was 158. The railway-ticket printing executed by this branch during the year was as follows : Railway tickets, 2,085,658; season tickets, 11,227; flag-station tickets, 340,800; luggage tickets, 63,500; parcels tickets, 40,200; weighbridge tickets, 17,000. Stationery Office. The prices of papers and stationery have had a slightly downward tendency since my last report; and, by the judicious selection of special lines from different manufacturers, the best value has been obtained for the outlay, and the purchases on the whole have, I consider, never been more favourable. The rise in freights led to my ordering somewhat in advance of requirements, in order to take advantage of the lower rates offering by sailing vessels; and, though the arrival of the goods cannot be calculated upon with certainty, I have experienced no inconvenience by the change, and have thereby succeeded in lessening the expenditure by a considerable amount. The total cost of the stationery and binding material purchased last year was as follows: — £ s. a. Goods purchased in England ... ... ... ... 8 v 207 6 1 Goods purchased in foreign countries ... ... ... 326 Goods purchased in the colony ... ... ... ... 1,246 15 5 9,457 4 0 The freight on goods purchased out of the colony was £713 7s. 9d., and on goods purchased and shipped within the colony £99 35.; making a total of £812 10s. 9d. The number of requisitions received and complied with during the year ending the 31st December last was 10,673, or at the rate of 35 per day. The number of separate items in the requisitions was 43,685. The quantity of waste paper shipped was 48 tons, representing in value £122, which was sold to the local paper-mills. I have, &c, Geo. Didsbuet, Government Printer and Stores Manager. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary.

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No. 1. PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT OF THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31st DECEMBER, 1888.

1.—The Colony of New iEALAND ON -CCi IUNT OF THE OVEENMENT 'einting IFFICE. De. £ s. a. To Value of work done .. .. .. 24,043 1 3 Cash received, viz.:— Advertisements .. .. .. 373 4 9 Gazette subscriptions .. .. 59 17 6 Official publications .. 1,501 7 11 Miscellaneous .. .. .. 864 0 9 Land Transfer ana gold-mining advertisements .. .. .. .. 118 2 6 Value of articles made, repairs, &c, by office engineer .. .. .. 80 1 6 Value of rubber-stamps, electros, &c, for other departments.. .. .. 54 13 2 Ce. £ s. d. By Value of buildings and plant, 31st December, 1888 .. .. .. 33,778 15 7 Gash paid for wages and overtime .. 16,642 3 5 Working-expenses .. .. - .. 638 16 8 Ground-rent .. .. .. 165 0 0 Interest on old store and plant .. 773 9 9 Value of materials used .. .. 561 9 10 Profit and loss .. .. .. 7,539 19 A 27,094 9 4 Balance .. ..33,005 5 10 £60,099 15 2 £60,099 15 2 2. —Stock and B 'ildings Account. De. £ s. a. To Value of new office and old store, 31st December, 1888 .. .. .. 18,559 0 0 Value of plant, 31st December, 1888 ..14,367 0 0 Additions during year .. .. 852 15 7 Ce. £ s. d. By Value of buildings and plant, 31st December, 1888 .. .. .. 33,005 5 10 Depreciation of plant and old store, carried to Profit and Loss Account .. 773 9 9 £33,778 15 7 £33,778 15 7 Value of buildings and plant, brought down .. .. .. .. 33,005 5 10 3.—Salaei: is Account. De. £ s. a. To Wages—permanent hands .. .. 6,220 6 2 ,, extra hands .. .. 9,476 0 0 Overtime .. .. .. .. 820 0 0 Proportion of night-watchman's salary 125 9 4 Ce. By Transfer to Profit and Loss Account .. £ s. d. 16,642 3 5 £16,642 3 5 £16,642 3 5 4.—WoEKING-EX 'enses Account. Db. To Fuel Gas Miscellaneous £ s. d. 120 18 2 330 6 7 187 11 11 Ok. By Transfer to Profit ana Loss Account .. £ s. a. 638 16 8 £638 16 8 £638 16 8 5.—Printing and Binding Account. De. £ s. d. Ce. £ s. d. To Value of binding materials, ink, &c., used, By Value of work done and cash receivea 27,094 9 4 including freight and other charges* 561 9 10 Balance to Profit and Loss Account ..26,532 19 6 £27,094 9 4 £27,094 9 4 £27,094 9 4 * Value ol paper is not included in this item, nor in contra item, value of work done. 6. —Profit and Loss Account. Dr. To Depreciation on old store and plant Salaries and overtime Working-expenses Ground-rent Interest on old store and plant Profit to credit of colony £ s. a. 773 9 9 .. 16,642 3 5 638 16 8 165 0 0 773 9 9 .. 7,539 19 11 Ob. By Balance of Printing and Binding Account £ s. a. 26,532 19 6 £26,532 19 6 £26,532 19 6 Samuel Costall, Accountant.

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No. 2. Return of the Value of Pointing and Binding executed by the Government Printing Department during the Year ended 31st December, 1888.

No. 3. Return of the Number and Classification of the Employes in the Government Printing Department during the Year ended 31st December, 1888.

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Department. Printing. Number ol ! Number Authors' Copies. | of Pages. Corrections. Value. ] Uncling. Totals. Audit Colonial Secretary Gazette Branch Constabulary Customs Marino Crown Lands Crown Law Defence Education General Assembly— House of Representatives — Order Paper Papers and returns Journals Miscellaneous Legislative Council — . Order Paper.. Journals and Appendix Miscellaneous Joint account Bills .. Hansard Statutes rjeological Clovernor's Establishment Insurance Justice Bankruptcy Land Transfer Lunatic Asylums and Hospitals Mines Stock Branch Miscellaneous Native Post and Telegraph Money Order and Savings Bank .. Printing and Stationery Store Branch Prisons Property-tax Public Trust Public Works Railways Registrar-General Stamp Survey Treasury Registrar, Friendly Societies 7,069 34,342 419,494 105,195 82,361 14,342 189,127 24 180 1,463 277 91 69 370 Hours. 1 2 574 5 9 £ s. d. 13 17 0 54 19 6 2,110 1 5 407 2 0 80 12 6 34 15 0 278 12 0 £ s. d. 17-4 8 11 12 10 426 5 0 49 7 6 151 10 4 6 0 6 141 15 0 3 10 140 3 6 146 1 5 £ s. d. 31 1 3 66 12 4 2,536 6 5 456 9 6 232 *2 10 40 15 6 420 7 0 3 10 258 0 11 329 16 11 6 71,747 207,208 "267 183 10 24 117 17 5 183 15 6 .. 63,214 256,170 300 29,050 523 2,864 296 117 49 1,212 59 9 282 1 0 3,030 0 0 222 IS 6 50 8 6 20 11 1 409 4 8 32 3 9 19 15 6 302 12 1 3,439 4 8 255 2 3 70 4 0 42,480 4,850 2,774 264,639 117,581 184,500 39,822 7,881 798 72,200 191,728 21,925 45,428 29,174 78,050 68,470 ]25,189 173,346 11,811,181 1,050,984 87,603 12,862 2,550 930,305 6,430 62,030 3,315,550 114,256 112,597 27,031 448,558 7,894 138 182 54 241 1,131 3,244 425 81 10 34 113 5 20 48 61 47 604 597 1,341 436 131 9 3 222 29 336 325 537 34 132 180 26 14 41 30 21 2,046 3,927 83 2 6 112 3 3 81 1 6 130 17 4 875 (i 0 3,020 7 3 i 412 4 0 20 4 0 2 7 6 44 17 6 101 12 3 7 5 6 37 16 9 30 19 0 57 6 3 41 9 6 339 16 3 509 15 2 2,069 15 9 860 7 6 ] 62 7 6 9 10 6 2 0 0 312 16 3 9 10 0 182 18 0 559 17 6 879 12 0 51 9 6 47 13 9 227 9 0 12 11 6 2 10 11 32 6 4 5 17 0 105 13 1 49 14 8 701 11 2 1,011 9 9 18 11 0 14 17 6 44 7 10 67 8 8 7 8 10 66 2 2 7 2 0 90 16 9 20 2 8 115 15 0 148 9 5 592 0 0 121 12 0 10 7 11 394 6 10 9 17 6 218 14 6 0 19 6 54 1 1 543 18 4 117 5 10 15 11 3 32 0 3 271 0 6 2 19 0 85 13 5 144 9 7 30 18 6 296 10 5 925 0 3 3,721 18 5 1,423 13 9 38 15 0 17 5 0 89 5 4 169 0 11 14 14 4 103 18 11 38 1 6 148 3 0 61 12 2 455 11 3 658 4 7 2,661 15 9 481 19 6 72 15 5 403 17 4 11 17 6 531 10 9 10 9 6 236 19 1 1,103 10 10 996 17 10 67 0 9 79 14 0 498 9 6 15 10 6 1 1 11 2 144 257 83 2 3 10 298 35 178 3 11 25 Totals 20,940,891 17,500 9,103 17,513 10 7 6,529 10 8 24,043 1 3

CO a CD t-3 | CO 43 so S3 o C i3 a g s a n a ■3 1-3 Overseers Readers Compositors Machinists, pressmen, paperwetter, cutters, engineer, and engine-driver Bookbinders, including one overseer Females in binding branch Apprentices, machine and errand boys Assistants titercotyper 3 5 42 8 3 4 30 8 3 3 29 8 3 3 30 8 3 3 35 8 3 6 58 9 3 6 56 9 1 3 0 54 9 3 3 38 9 i 41 9 I i 9 3 4 42 9 14 14 14 14 14 13 10 12 13 14 14 11 22 i 34 22 33 22 34 22 34 22 34 22 35 22 37 21 37 23 36 23 37 23 38 17 42 6 i 1 6 1 C 1 6 1 6 1 6 1 6 1 6 1 6 1 7 ! 1 S 7 ! 1 6 1 Totals 120 121 I ; 153 150 149 I 138 ! 138 135 135 121 126 132 Average per month, say, 135.

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No. 4. Return showing the Quantity and Value of Paper, Envelopes, &c., issued to the Government Printing Office during the Year 1888.

No. 5. Number of Vouchers examined, the Amount of Deductions made, and the Total Amount passed for Payment, during 1888.

No. 6. Return of the Value of Printing and Binding executed at the Lyttelton Gaol during the Year ended 31st December, 1888.

[Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, nil; printing (1,300 copies), .£5 6s. Gd.]

By Authority: George Didsbuey, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBB9.

Quantity. Description. Amount. Quantity. Description. Amount. E. q. 8 5 96 10 & s. d. 12 0 0 77 2 0 R. q. 11 10 48 10 7 5 9 15 Koyal— continued. Hand-made .. & s. d. 27 12 C 140 13 t 14 0 C 16 9 8 42 0 Hand-mado post folio Double post folio, cream wove, 481b. Double post folio (money orders), 481b. 8vo. note, large, 4Jlb. .. 4to. letter, large, 101b. 21 7 0 „ superfine Imitation hand-made superfine Medium hand-made Imperial— Hand-made Imitation hand-made Cartridge, 601b. Cartridge, double demy, glazed, buff Double imperial, brown Demy blotting-paper 99 10 8 10 16 13 9 2 5 2 10 8 2 2 25 15 36 10 40 13 £ 6 0S 23 3 *t 27 16 i 9 0 3 0 113 5 15 15 475 10 2 10 15 5 13 10 151 15 836 0 14 0 1 15 217 0 3,928 0 861 15 38 15 1,079 5 69 15 Foolscap— Cream laid, 14Alb. 181b. „ hand-made, 181b. .. Azure laid Double copying Imitation hand-made cream wove double Toned double Sheet and a half Cream laid quad. Pink quad. Turkey mill Map-paper, 28 x 2G Buff double Yellow wove double Blue wove double Coloured double, 2Glb. Cream wove double, 301b. ., Double crown yellow wove Demy— Coloured Blue laid Yellow wove double Hand-made Toned double RoyalsYellow wove, printing Coloured 2 17 0 19 3 109 0 0 6 10 0 168 1 1 3 17 6 7 2 6 6 9 4 82 4 0 348 G 8 14 0 0 4 19 8 32 11 0 1,280 1 0 408 17 10 16 9 4 607 1 6 27 18 0 12 15 35 15 14,000 04,500 101,500 3,500 12,250 Total paper Envelopes— Demy, cream wove Foolscap, cream wove No. 7, cream laid Cards — Double small - .<• „ large 16 17 C 25 18 4 5,357 4 r 7 2 «,: 24 19 1C 17 15 e 10C 6 4 C Total envelopes, &c. .. 55 2 ] 169i 5,333" Parchment Pasteboards 610 4 0 33 7 3 37 10 326 0 459 15 77 10 455 15 10 9 2 184 3 0 282 7 0 104 12 6 290 10 10 Total parchment, &o. .. 643 11 :! Summary— Paper Fmvelopes, &c. Parchment, &c. 5,357 4 8 55 2 1 643 11 3 2,351 0 114 0 832 12 11 57 0 0 Total 6,055 17 7

Period. Number. Deductions. Amount passed. Ixamined during the month of January February March „ „ April „ „ May „ „ June July August „ „ September .. „ October November .. „ „ December .. .. ! 301 281 293 303 213 285 240 272 321 290 251 272 £ s. a. 7 16 2 7 14 6 4 8 4 13 5 5 8 18 5 11 11 4 4 11 6 10 0 9 11 2 9 15 8 1 6 17 10 7 10 11 £ s. a. 1,035 16 1 963 7 1 511 19 5 810 10 8 668 5 1 816 15 10 594 4 10 630 9 4 658 18 1 684 5 7 544 18 4 627 3 2 Totals 3,322 109 6 0 8,546 13 1

Department. Number of Copies. Number of Jobs. Value. 'rinting and stationery 'risons Totals <S 835,592 84,848 920,440 308 79 £ s. d. 347 2 2 139 11 3 920,440 387 486 13 5