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1927. NEW ZEALAND

PRINTING AND STATIONARY DEPARTMENT (ANNUAL REPORT OF THE) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1927.

Laid on the Table of the House of Representatives by Leave.

g IR) Printing and Stationery Department, Wellington, July, 1927. I have the honour to submit the annual report upon the working of this Department for the year ended 31st March, 1927. The tables accompanying the report show the nature, extent, and result of the year's working. Gazette. —The number printed of each issue was 1,000, the number of subscribers 437, and the amount received from subscribers and sales £3,303. Hansard. —The number printed of each issue for session 1926 was 6,700, the number of subscribers 123, and the amount received from subscribers and sales .€145. Stamp-printing. —Stamps to the value of £3,340,727, and postal notes to the value of £24,669, were printed. Stereo and Electro Plates. —The number of stereo-plates oast during the year was 39,782, of which 3,114 were nickel-plated, the weight being 28,619 lb. The number of electrotypes was 1,294, and the weight 1,185 lb. Rubber Stamps. —The number of rubber stamps made was 807. Railway Tickets. —7,839,936 railway tickets were printed, the largest number (1,235,727) being printed in November. Work of the Year. —The volume of work for the past year exceeded that of the previous year to the value of £10,000, the turnover being approximately £244,000. The greater volume of work was executed without any undue amount of overtime being necessary, as the new and up-to-date machinery which has been installed enabled it to be completed with greater speed. The work of the Photo-litho and Process Engraving Branch, as in the previous year, remained at high pressure —six maps of New Zealand, seven county maps, nineteen borough and town maps, thirty survey-district maps, ninety sale plans and posters, and 744 miscellaneous maps, graphs, &c., being reproduced and printed. Three maps of New Zealand were drawn during the year, apart from numerous graphs, posters, and colour stones. Pour hundred large negatives up to 30 in. by 30 in., were required for the maps and plans, and 1,750 negatives were made for process blocks ; also, a large number of bromide prints and lantern-slides were produced. During the year the Stationery Office dealt with 11,824 requisitions for stationery, the total sales amounting to £39,720. These requisitions comprised 111,744 items, and, in addition to parcels, 2,395 cases of stationery were despatched. Cash orders numbered 10,010. In addition, 231 typewriters, of the value of £3,686, were issued to Government Departments. Paper and Stationery. —Stocks throughout the year have been kept well up to the required standard, and prices for the main supply of paper have been satisfactory, the purchases amounting to £67,6-59 and the issues to £46,103, comprising 75,000 packages of paper and boards, and 12,000,000 envelopes. Machinery. —During the year up-to-date machinery has been installed, which tends to a. greater expedition in the production of the work. Accommodation. —The question of providing more accommodation is an urgent one. As the volume of work is increasing, it is becoming more difficult to handle in an expeditious manner. Staff. —I have pleasure in testifying to the whole-hearted services of those holding responsible positions, while the staff generally has worked well. I have, &c., W. A. G. Skinnee, The Hon. the Minister in Charge. Government Printer.