A Master-Printers' Association.

Fifty-two years have passed since the first printing-press was landed in New Zealand. That historic press, the sections of which were dragged up the beach by a crowd of rejoicing natives, is, with other typographic mementoes of those bygone days, still preserved among the treasures of our earliest printer, who dwells at this day in the town of Napier, and whose name is known and honored by the scientific world. On a future occasion we may give some account of the first printing office at Paihia, in the Bay of Islands, and of the large amount of excellent work produced there under extraordinary difficulties. But our present subject is the present condition of the industry which had its small beginnings in the far north in 1834, and which has, in little over half-a-century, attained the growth set forth in the statistics given in another part of this page.

In whatever way the printing and publishing interest in this colony is considered—either in the number of establishments, the amount of capital invested, labor employed, intellect brought to bear upon its operations, or its far-reaching influence upon society generally—it must be acknowledged to be one of the leading industries of the colony. At the same time its position is not a satisfactory one. No pursuit involves more incessant toil, or taken as a whole, shows a more inadequate return for capital invested. We believe the causes lie within rather than without. Year by year, to keep pace with general progress, it is found necessary to increase expenditure in new and costly appliances, while in many cases an increasing business represents a decreased return. Want of union to a great extent lies at the root of the evil. Instead of healthy competition and honorable rivalry, there is far too often a suicidal system of fierce opposition, reducing prices below a paying level, and sacrificing all other considerations to secure the greatest amount of custom.

This vicious system brings other evils in its train. When the rates charged do not permit of fair wages being paid to skilled workmen, their places are taken by boys and turnovers, who fill up their term without properly mastering their business, and then are often cast adrift, only to find the labor market crowded with others in a similar position. The employment of unskilled hands, again, lowers the general quality of the work, and is false economy in the end, the waste of material and damage to machinery fully making up the difference in wages. The tendering system is beset with evils. Wealthy corporations not unfrequently obtain large supplies of work under actual cost; and in other casas an unprofitable contract is eked out with charges for corrections and other extras, so out of all reason that they are successfully disputed.

No private effort can cope with evils like these. Their existence is acknowledged by all thoughtful men in the craft. Workmen's unions have tried with varying success to limit the employment of boy labor, and to secure that apprentices should be properly instructed in their trade. But without united action on the part of the employers no effectual remedy can be found. Local press clubs have their use, and in their place can do good work; but what is really needed is a central representative body—a Master Printers' Association.

To rightly estimate the value of such an institution we have but to examine its workings elsewhere. Probably no agency has done so much for printing in America as the Typothetæ of New York. It has on its roll of membership the chief literary men, the ablest journalists, and the most artistic printers in the United States. The honor of membership is highly esteemed; and the influence of this admirable central organization is felt in every part of the great continent.

There is room and scope for a kindred organization here. A standard scale of prices, drawn up by a thoroughly representative body, would go far to check the reckless and ruinous rates at which work is often undertaken. The man who has not the moral courage to stand by his own price, but adopts that of his neighbor (often with a deduction), would have at least an authoritative standard of reference; and if he went far below it, he would do so with his eyes open. The moral effect of the union alone would do much to elevate the trade, and maintain a high standard. In such matters, too, as the copyright and libel laws, and postal and telegraph affairs, the representations of such a body would have a powerful influence.

Once established, such a union would have little to fear from outside and disorganized rivalry. The greater and most profitable part of the printing must be done in the country itself, so that outside competition need not be feared. There will always be « cock-robin shops » and cutting tradesmen; but well-established offices, doing good work at a fair price, have nothing to dread from opposition of that kind.

We have noticed with pleasure the uniformly favorable manner in which the first number of Typo has been received by the press. Still more gratifying have been the letters addressed to us privately by some of the foremost printers in the Colony. Our aim will be to publish a paper which shall above all be of practical value. The articles on « Worthies of the Craft » we intend to continue, having ample materials in our English and American papers. The way to true success is earnestly sought by all beginners. The example of those who have attained such success may always be studied with profit.

A supplement to the Government Gazette dated 28th January, is filled with valuable statistical tables, containing the results of the census of March last, relating to manufactories, machines, &c. We append the statistics relating to the printing industry. The number of printing establishments in the colony in March 1885 was 135, thus distributed among the several provincial districts:

—These employ 2,107 hands—1,999 males and 108 females. The figures, compared with those of the previous census, give the following results:

—In 67 cases hand-power only is used, in 11 steam, in 27 gas, and in 23 water; besides 4 where both gas and steam are in use, 2 water and gas, and 1 steam, water, and gas. In many cases the value of materials operated upon and the value of annual production are not stated; in some cases the value of land and buildings is not given. These figures, therefore, can only be taken as approximate. It will be seen that the annual value of production is not available for page 11comparison in the case of the earlier census. Our own impression is, that if accurate figures could be given, they would not show an advance corresponding to the increase of capital invested.

The only industries allied to printing shown in the census returns are paper-mills, of which there are two in Otago, employing 25 males and 12 females, Materials valued at £3,400 were operated on, and 440 tons of paper, valued at £7,280, turned out. A capital of £12,800 is invested in this industry. Also one cardboard box manufactory and one paper bag manufactory, both in Otago. No particulars are furnished, except that one employs eight and the other seven hands; but whether they are exclusively employed in these particular industries does not appear. There are no separate particulars regarding lithographic establishments, this branch being apparently in every case carried on in connexion with letterpress work.

Judging of the economic value of a trade by the number of hands to which it gives employment, the printing industry takes a very high place. Compare, for example, the figures relating to the printing offices in New Zealand for the year 1885 with the corresponding figures relating to the breweries:

—It will thus be seen that every £1,000 invested in the printing industry finds employment for 6⅓ hands, and in the brewery trade to 11/6.

Following the example of the leading English foundries, all the American typefounders have formed themselves into a « ring » and agreed upon a price list, from which no deductions are to be made except certain fixed rates for cash payments. The Chicago Stationer and Printer takes the singular view that printers will benefit by the higher rates they have to pay—first, in restricted competition in their own trade, and secondly, in their plant being increased in marketable value. This, however, is only a common protectionist fallacy put in plainer terms than usual. It is a remarkable fact that while fierce competition in almost all other branches of trade is forcing a reaction, and manufacturers are combining to keep prices at a paying level, printers are among the last to come to an understanding. The result is, that year by year their expenses increase, while their profits as steadily diminish.

There are 161 serial publications registered as newspapers in the colony of New Zealand. Deducting mere trade circulars and weekly reprints of daily papers, there still remain more than one hundred. This is a large proportion for a European population of 580,000.

The December number of the Australasian and South American to hand from New York by the last San Francisco mail, is the most thoroughly representative organ of American trade that we have seen. It is a giant newspaper, of 100 demy folio pages, chiefly occupied with illustrated advertisements of manufactures of every kind. Looking it over, we imagine that there is scarce an industry in New Zealand, agricultural, pastoral, or manufacturing, that would not find « the very thing we want » advertized in its pages. Its great object—to push American exports—is well kept in view; and it is a fact of great significance that the chief obstacle to such extension is found in the protective tariffs of the United States. It is clear that the commercial world in the States is fast realizing the ruinous results of the fiseal policy so long imposed upon them, and that protection in America is tottering to its fall. « Experience is a dear school » &c., and the colonies, it seems, will learn in no other. In America, with its boundless virgin resources, protection has proved a melancholy failure—in less favored lands it can only result in still greater disaster.