U.S. BOOKS AND MAGAZINES

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25300, 27 September 1947, Page 5

U.S. BOOKS AND MAGAZINES

SUPPLIES RESTRICTED NEXT YEAR

ESSENTIAL IMPORTS ONLY PERMITTED

American books, magazines, and technical publications may not be obtainable next year, as booksellers in Christchurch have been advised by the Customs Department that no more licences for imports from Canada and the United States of America will be granted unless the applicants can definitely establish that their requirements are essential and urgently needed. Schools and industry will suffer most from the cuts, as large supplies of textbooks and technical publications have been imported from the United States.

Most importing firms have already exhausted their 1947 licences, and »some have committed portion of their 1948 quota, part of which is on the water. Some concern is felt because they cannot pay for their orders until their licences are endorsed by the Customs Department. Booksellers in Christchurclr estimate that about 15 per-cent, of their revenue will be lost as a result of the cuts in imports. Supplies of American publications have been limited since the beginning of the war, and there is no surplus in hand. There has been a rush tp buy textbooks and technical publications in the last week by people who need to keep abreast of American developments in the field in which they are interested. Some of the American publications which have a large circulation in New Zealand and may not be obtainable next year are “Popular Mechanics.” “Popular Photography,” “Radio Craft,” “Reader’s Digest.” “Saturday Evening Post,” “Ladies’ Home Journal,’/ “Life, “Esquire,” and a number of sporting, fashion, and needlework magazines.