11.—20,

8

any Government department; enters them in a private work-book, sends a proof to the department concerned, and, when it is returned, makes any corrections required. The copies are then lithographed, and a copy filed with the Government Printer, with the number thrown off marked on it. The work is then entered in the work-book, and the sheets delivered. No time-books are kept by either the photographer or lithographer. Overtime in the lithographic office is paid for at the same rate as allowed to compositors. The work done by these two branches is considered to be of a first-class description, and the men are kept constantly employed. The Stamp Printer receives his orders from the Treasury for postage stamps, and from the Government Printer for duty stamps. The duty-stamp paper is kept in numbered sheets in the Colonial Secretary's Department, and is drawn from thence as required. Duty-stamp paper is obtained by the Government Printer, and handed by him to the stamper, he accounting for the exact number of sheets he receives to the Government Printer, who makes weekly returns to the Audit Department, which are checked by corresponding returns furnished from the Colonial Secretary's Department. Postage stamp paper is drawn by the Stamp Printer himself from the Colonial Secretary, to whom he gives a receipt. After the stamps are printed he takes them to the Treasury, when he obtains a receipt; at same time entering it in a book, which he takes to the Colonial Secretary's Office to show he has executed the order, and his book is signed to that effect. The check on the proper number of sheets being accounted for lies between the Colonial Secretary's and Treasury Departments, who compare their books periodically; the Colonial Secretary's Department accounting for the paper issued; the Treasury for the stamps rececived. Accounts for audit are rendered by the Treasury. All the stamping is under the superintendence of Mr. Davis, the foreman. In addition to stamping, money orders, cheques, and debentures are numbered and perforated in this branch; also, the supply of money order books is in the custody of the foreman, who issues the books on the orders of the General Post Office. Satisfactory books of issue are kept. The money order books themselves are printed and bound in the printing office. No time book is kept. The following is a list of the books kept by the Government Printer : — (1.) An Order Book (specimen attached), showing all orders received by him. (2.) Paper Pass Book. (3.) Work Books for the various branches (with the exceptions alluded to) in which the work is entered day by day. (4.) Work Ledger, showing the departments for which the work has been done. (5.) Salary Book. (6.) Cash Book for sales of public documents, Gazette advertisements, &c. . (7.) Journal of Sales on Credit and Account Ledger. (8.) Advertisement Book. (9.) Time Books. An improved system of book-keeping is in contemplation. The waste paper of the establishment mostly consists of cancelled impressions, Order Papers not used, Bills, odd sheets, &c, which are all collected and sold to a storekeeper in town at 2d. per lb., and who, it is understood, afterwards retails it; thus accounting for the printed public papers getting into the hands of shopkeepers, so frequently the subject of remark. I would here mention incidentally that the Government waste paper is sold by tender, but there is constantly on hand a large quantity which cannot thus be disposed of, and requires either to be stored or burned, the latter being a tedious operation. lam told that there is a " pulping machine" by which the waste can be reduced by a simple process to a form very saleable to paper-makers; but as to its cost or merits I have not been able to obtain sufficient information to be able to offer an opinion. I made inquiry as to the working of the different departments in connection with each other, and can find no good reason why they should not be conducted in harmony. There is a fancied superiority on the part of the workmen in the photographer's and lithographic departments over their fellow-workmen in the Printing Department. The practice of both photographer and lithographer receiving orders otherwise than through the head of the establishment, it is thought, is apt to engender a feeling of independence not conducive to the welfare of the establishment. In Sydney, both offices are attached to the Printing Department; in Melbourne, I understand they are under the Crown Lands Office. The departments are closely connected, and unquestionably can be more economically worked under one responsible head on the spot, than if the superintendence was divided, and portion of it perhaps removed to a distance from the workmen. A certain amount of laxity exists as to the reception of orders by the Printer. A practice has grown up with the department of acting upon orders not approved by a Minister, or even in many cases by the head of a department. This might be remedied with advantage. Besides this (and perhaps partially consequent), there is frequently considerable extravagance in the issue of orders, which might in many cases be avoided. For instance, orders for forms are sometimes repeated at intervals of a fortnight, when the "forme," having been