.jpg)
Official Guide to the Government Court: N.Z. Centennial Exhibition
Government Printing & Stationery Department
Government Printing & Stationery Department
As the visitor enters the Government Court, the Government Printing and Stationery Department's exhibit is seen immediately opposite, on the left. In addition to a variety of exhibits of completed work, examples of various processes employed in the printing industry are shown in progressive stages towards completion. To turn, first, to specimens of the publications printed and stocked by this Department, the exhibit is subdivided as follows:—
Governmental and Statistical, being the complete set of Acts and Statutes from 1908 to 1938, together with those statistical publications, the Local Authorities Handbook, 1939, and the New Zealand Official Year Book, 1940, both being invalu-able works of reference for professional and business men.
Botany, consisting of a wide field of works for all interested in this subject, from the student to those who desire only to extend their scientific general knowledge.
History, particularly publications dealing with early days of the colony, together with the Roll of Honour of the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces, 1914-18.
Ethnology: A most interesting series of monographs on the life and customs of the Maori are displayed, together with Williams's Maori English Dictionary.
Topography: Two examples are shown, giving detailed information concerning two well-known natural features, the Franz Josef Glacier and the Tongariro National Park.
Zoology: A selection of the many books and pamphlets available gives information covering the indigenous and imported wild life of the Dominion.
Turning now to the technical aspect of the Department's activities, a selection has been made of work performed in the following branches:—
Lithographic Branch: The Dominion's Coat of Arms has been taken as a suitable example of the art of colour printing. It will be seen that each colour on the original is separated, printed, and overprinted on accurate presses until the final operation produces an exact copy of the original. Other examples of the same process, in lesser complexity, are also displayed.
Stereotyping Branch: The main function of stereotyping is the reproduction in the form of "plates" or castings of any desired number of "formes" of type, thus saving the time of the compositor, obviating the need for large stocks of type and thereby facilitating rapid and economical production. The process, with examplespage 11of the variations adopted in different work, is clearly shown. For additional durability, stereo-plates are sometimes nickel-plated, examples of which are displayed.
Binding Branch: This section of the exhibit includes examples of the better-class work executed in the Department. Particularly worthy of attention is a record book for the use of the Government Life Insurance Department, where durability, both in use and subsequently for record purposes, is of paramount Importance.
Attention is also drawn to the volumes of Illustrations to the New Zealand flora, which are shown in four stages of binding. In the first stage the folded sheets {signatures) are shown collated and pressed; in the second stages, sewn; in the third stage, rounded, taped and banded; while the fourth stage shows the finished volume fully bound and lettered.
Among the other binding exhibits are copies of the School Journal, Journal of Agriculture, White's Ancient History of the Maori, records of past Exhibitions, Mc- Nab's Historical Records, and a copy of the Treaty of Waitangi, with facsimiles of the actual Treaty bearing the marks or signatures of the various signatories.