Established in 1903 by Andrew Canning Anderson, City Printing Works and The Critic was originally a sporting, political, social and community newspaper publication.

 The Critic, which unlike other earlier short lived local publications successfully survived for almost three decades.  The Critic in its early days supported Labour policies and the Labour party, throughout its existence retained some political sympathy for the Labour party.

This was a vehicle for Andrew Canning’s promotion of the eight-hour day and other improvements for the working man.  A very popular publication on a Friday it ceased circulation on 2^nd May 1931 during the Great Depression.  The company continued to do general job printing with the most modern machinery.