I worked out the problem. Even though CUPS had been deinstalled some time ago, mozilla appeared to be honouring the contents of /etc/cups/client.conf and hanging while trying to talk to a non-existent printer.
The bugs then are: -- timeout too long while trying to talk to a non-existent printer queue -- Honouring obsolete information (possibly a cups or xprint bug: --- after apt-get remove cupsys-client I don't expect anything to try using /etc/cups/* ) -- Dr Peter Chubb http://www.gelato.unsw.edu.au peterc AT gelato.unsw.edu.au The technical we do immediately, the political takes *forever* -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]