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half to two-thirds of the work done in the Government Printing Office. He urges the advisability of having at least a small stock of machinery, type, &c., in reserve. A sufficient supply, were it required, could not be obtained nearer than London. An extensive order could not be executed in Melbourne or Sydney, as the printers' brokers there do not care to keep up large stocks, and when they obtain large orders, send them to England for execution. A fire-proof detached building, containing a reserve stock, would be a valuable addition to the department. In case of pressure, the reserve might be drawn upon within certain limits for current use, and the deficiency immediately made good by fresh orders. As an instance of the inconvenience of having no reserve to fall back upon, on one occasion a donkey engine from the wharf had to be hired to prevent the business from coming to a standstill. The cost of a complete reserve of everything required is estimated at about £5,000. The office is under the superintendence of the Government Printer, an overseer, and a suboverseer. The salary of the Government Printer is £370 per annum, but this is supplemented to the extent of from £50 to £60 by the commission which he is allowed on the sale of Gazettes, Acts, &c, alluded to further on. By way of comparison, I may mention that the salary of the Government Printer, Melbourne, is £800, with house, fuel, &c.; at Sydney, £600; and in Queensland, £500 per annum. The overseer's salary is £250, and the sub-overseer's £210. The number of hands engaged at present is 99, and they are distributed as follows throughout the different departments : — Printers. Permanently employed .. .. .. .. .. 12 Time hands .. .. .. .. .. .. 24 Piece hands .. .. .. .. .. .. 14 Boys .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 22 — 72 Binders. Men .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 Boys .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 Women and girls .. .. .. .. .. .. 8 — 15 Stamp printers .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 Lithographers ... .. .. .. .. .. 6 Photographers .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 — 12 Total .. .. .. .. .. 99 The Hansard staff of compositors, numbering from fourteen to sixteen hands, are taken on only during the Session. In addition to the printing of Hansard, they are sometimes employed on miscellaneous work during the usual press of business occurring at that time. The "readers" receive £200; the clerk and book-keeper, £180; machinist and one pressman £3 35., and compositors £3 each, per week. Ordinary piece work is paid for at the rate of Is. 2d. and Hansard at the rate of Is. 3d. per thousand. The wages of the printers average £203 12s. per week. The regulation working hours are from 9 to 5, with an hour for dinner, and on Saturdays from 9 to 2, but, by arrangement, the men work an hour later on Fridays, and leave at 1 p.m. on Saturdays, the total weekly work being forty hours, the ordinary hours of the trade being fortyseven per week. The regular hands are required to work extra hours if wanted, and piece hands, when all of them are not required, by lot. Overtime is paid for at the rate of 2s. 6d. per hour to the overseer, 2s. to readers, Is. Bd. to compositors, and Is. to assistants. Printed copies of the regulations will be found attached. The permanent hands are under the superintendence of the overseer, and the piece hands and some of the time hands under the sub-overseer. Time is kept by means of a book showing lost and credit time, which is daily entered and checked by the overseer and hands in such a manner as to prevent a dispute when a balance is struck at the end of the month. The machines are worked by a machinist,having one machine-minder and eight boysunder him. Permanent hands are subject to a month's notice. Extra hands are taken on as required, and dismissed when work is done. At present, there is no difficulty in obtaining extra hands, there being always plenty of applicants on the list for employment. Generally before any man is taken on permanently, he is put on piece work to see what he is capable of doing; if he gives satisfaction, he is put on time work when additional time hands are required. The duties of the Government Printer are to keep up a general superintendence of the department, to receive orders and enter them, to instruct the overseers, engage and discharge men, prepare estimates of printing, obtain supplies on requisition, pay the men's wages, keep accounts with the Treasury and of the stamp paper received from the Colonial Secretary, pay all receipts into Public Account, furnish certain returns to Audit Office, certify as to the accuracy of advertising accounts for other departments. He is also responsible for the sale of public