Craft Correspondence.

In my last I had almost promised that I would be able to report a more cheerful state in the printing line. Perhaps it may be said to be a little better, but very little indeed. I hear that the Press office is the only one that can be said to be fully employed; and this is brought about by recent changes. You are already aware that the Referee is incorporated with the Weekly Press. Consequent on this, a large amount of additional new matter is set, employing several extra hands. A jobbing office attached is also sharing in the good things following, as all the printing connected with racing is being done there at present. Beyond this, there is nothing encouraging.

The Master Printers' Association is pulling through wonderfully. Mr W. G. Russell, as President, is the right man in the right place. He finds a little trouble, it is said, in keeping the team on the straight run. Their first « social » took place on the 9th of the present month, and if all is correct as reported, right merrily did they enjoy themselves, and a perfect feeling of unanimity for the welfare of the Craft pervaded the whole assembly.

Regarding the federation question, I believe I am correct in saying that both Christchurch and Dunedin are hard at work on the uniform tariff, and when this is completed and agreed to, a deputation will proceed north to show you good people the advantages of such a combination.

Of Typographical Society matter I have but little to report. I hear that the Secretary has been very persistent in bringing before the master printers the Society's ideas about how the casual hands should be employed and paid in jobbing-offices, as well as demanding an increase of overtime-rate throughout all the offices. The master printers, at a meeting held a few days ago, decided to set this matter at rest. They declared that the unsatisfactory state of the printing trade at the present time did not warrant the attempt to disturb the arrangements now in force. This is a fit illustration of the fable of the « last straw. » The master printers about eight months ago conceded several points to the Society, and now feel inclined to resent any interference with the conduct of their business.—Looking over an American paper the other day, I saw among the notices to correspondents an intimation that the management were fully alive to the fact that the outside public knew better than themselves how to manage the publication of their paper: that all suggestions and propositions in that direction would be received; but the management hoped that none of their subscribers or friends would be hurt if they continued to conduct their own business in their own way. ؟Is this apropos?—At the last T. A. Board meeting, after a hard fight, a motion was carried to increase the weekly subscription from sixpence to one shilling for the purpose of forming a « defence fund. » Several say that they won't pay any increase; so we may expect to see a « boil over » shortly.