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A new letter-card machine, built by Bell and Valentine, of Melbourne, has been installed and is doing satisfactory work. The disk ruling-machine, ordered in 19.16, has just arrived, and is in process of being set up, This should be a valuable addition to the plant. Three railway-ticket-printing machines are under order from Waterlow and Sons, and should be delivered soon. The ticket-printing plant will then be up to date. We have also under order four letterpress printing-machines (three large Whari'dales, and one small fast-printing press) and one " Reliable " flat-bed litho printing-machine. The binding machinery needs radical improvement, and orders have been placed for a casemaking machine, a rounding and backing machine, and a cloth-cutting machine. More machinery is required to keep this branch up with the times, and I propose in the near future to place orders for other up-to-date machines. For the, Photo-litho Branch a " Macbeth " are, lamp is under order, and should be delivered within the, next few months. The generator and water-tank which were used when our machinery was steam-driven have been sold, but the steam-engines have not yet been disposed of. The Staff. —The staff has had a strenuous year, and I have pleasure in testifying to the 'valuable services rendered by all in responsible, positions. Marcus ¥. Marks, Hon. the Minister in Charge. Government Printer.

T PRINTING AND STATIONERY DEPARTMENT. Balance-sheet at 31st March, 1920. Dr. Liabilities. £ s. d. £ s. d. Or. Assets. £ s, d. £ s. d. To Capital Account .. 107.040 4 2 By Buildings .. .. 43,390 7 7 Sundry creditors .. 1,813 9 4 Less depreciation .. .. 1,084 15 0 Consolidated Fund Account 41,416 11 4 £ s. d. 42,305 12 7 Suspense Account .. 3,048 4 3 Plant—Printing .. 11,339 12 7 153,317 9 1 Less depreciation 850 10 0 Profit and Loss Account (balanoe to credit of) 9,634 10 9 10,489 2 7 Plant -Binding .. 3,024 11 1 Less depreciation 225 0 0 2,799 11 I « Plant—Litho and Photo .. 1,670 4 3 Less depreciation 125 5 0 1,544 19 3 Plant—Engine-room 369 16 9 Less depreciation 41 0 o 328 16 9 15,162 9 8 Type .. .. .. 7,440 8 8 Less depreciation 555 0 0 1 tj, 885 8 8 Furniture .. .. 131 7 11 Less depreciation 32 5 0 399 2 II Sundry debtors .. .. .. .. 58,787 11 11 Stock'in hand .. .. .. .. 39,411 14 1 £162,951 19 10 £162,951 19 10 Profit and Loss Account for the Year ending 31st March, 1920. Dr. £ s. cl. £ s. (I. Or. £ s. d. £ s. d. To Lighting and water .. 2,173 610 By Paper Stock Account .. .. 1,373 11 2 Repairs and maintenance .. 1,666 2 6 Manufacturing Account .. 2,029 7 1 Salaries, .. .. .. 4,616 12 5 Stationery Trading Account .. 6,945 13 6 Office expenses ... .. 360 6 6 Publishing Account .. .. 1,292 311 Discount .. .. .. 76 7 5 29,640 15 8 Freight .. .. ..1,258 10 8 Postage .. ~ . . 1.541 5 4 Medical services .. .. 118 5 0 Bad debts. . .. .. 0 1 3 Interest Account .. .. 5,281 12 0 Depreciation .. .. 2,913 15 0 . 20,006 4I I Balance—Profit for year .. .. 9,634 10 9 £29,640 15 8 £29,640 15 8 Wellington, 22nd June, 1920. B. B. Allen, Accountant.

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