H.—l6

1890. NEW ZEALAND.

PRINTING AND STATIONERY DEPARTMENT (ANNUAL REPORT ON THE).

Presented to both Ho2ises of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

Sic, — Printing and Stationery Department, Wellington, 2nd July, 1890. In submitting my annual report on the department for the year 1889 I have much pleasure in stating that the result of the year's.operations shows a marked improvement in many respects over those of previous years. The period covered by the last report included only four months' occupancy of the new premises. A considerable portion of that time was necessarily taken up in removing and re-arranging the plant and machinery, so that barely more than two months of that year may be regarded as the period during which all the inconveniences and drawbacks incident to removal were overcome, and the reorganization of the office accomplished. Now that a complete period under the new order of things is presented for review, the increased productiveness of the department is apparent. The number of orders received last year was 3,336 as compared with 2,292 for the previous year, showing an increase of 1,044 ; the number of copies printed, 29,404,737 as against 20,940,891; the number of pages, 20,455 as against 17,i00; and the total value of work done, £28,758 12s. lid. as compared with £24,043 Is. 3d. of the previous year; showing an increase of £4,715 lis. 7d. On reference to the balance-sheet it will be found that this result has been achieved at a less outlay for wages and overtime than that paid during the previous year, the respective amounts for 1888 and 1889 being £16,642 3s. sd. as against £16,309 14s. Id., showing a reduction of £332 9s. 4d. The "working expenses account" also comes out very satisfactorily. The items "fuel and gas," which cost £551 ss. 3d. in 1887, £451 4s. 9d. in 1888, only cost £168 4s. 3d. for fuel during the past year, for which latter sum, with the addition of salary of engine-driver (£140), the office is heated, lighted, and the whole of the motive-power for the machinery obtained. The comparison is greatly in favour of the present mode of heating and lighting when the size of the respective buildings —the old and the new—are considered, as it is estimated that fully one-third more heat and light are required in the present premises, while the motive-power needed to drive the additional machinery now in use is also much greater. Again referring to the balance-sheet, it will be found on turning to the profit and loss account, that after making all necessary allowances for interest and depreciation on building and plant, ground-rent, &c, the result shows a profit to the credit of the colony of £7,240 lis. lid. The number and classification of employes is shown in Table No. 3. The largest staff of hands employed was during the months of June and July, when it reached 163, while in November following the number dropped to 120. The return of work performed by the audit-branch of the department—-where all accounts for printing and advertising undergo examination before payment—shows that during the year 3,030 separate accounts were scrutinised, from which deductions were made to the amount of £100 14s. 7d. —the total amount passed for payment being £8,431 9s. lOd. New Publications. The new publications issued during the past year comprise, among others, Vol. XXII. of the " Transactions of the New Zealand Institute," Vol. VI. of White's " Ancient History of the Maori," and the New Zealand Law Eeports in monthly parts. The following works are now in the press, and will be issued shortly: Part 11. of the " Manual of Grasses and Forage Plants useful to New Zealand," by T. Mackay; an introductory Class-book of Botany for use in New Zealand schools, by G. M. Thomson, F.L.S.; and the Official Eecord of the Dunedin and South Seas Exhibition. I—H. 16.