Book Import Situation In N.Z. Now “Farcical”

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28888, 7 May 1959, Page 16

Book Import Situation In N.Z. Now “Farcical”

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, May 6.

The book import situation was reaching not only a serious, but a farcial situation, several Auckland booksellers said today. Recent alterations in categories meant virtually that every author’s output would have to be looked at to decide whether his work was “cultural” or not.

The booksellers have begun to implement a recent decision by their national conference to place notices in their windows giving facts about the situation.

The case was quoted today of one wholesaler who has a crate of books by Somerset Maugham and Nevill Shute held up at the customs because they cannot decide whether these authors are cultural or not.

An Auckland book importer said this position arose because of a recent widening of the No. 1 category (technical and scholarly books) to include cultural works. The overwhelming bulk of reading came into the country through the No. 2 category which had not been increased. Book dealers were, therefore, trying to get more serious books admitted under the cultural definition.

“Every customs officer against his will is going to become a law unto himself in this matter, and what is defined as cultural will differ from port to port,” he said.

Mr J. A. Lee, a member of the council of the Booksellers’ Association, said his definition of a cultural book was not one that taught people how to read. “The current book production of a country really represents its culture. Books are its living culture. That is the group that has had the heaviest cut.

“At my age I no longer want to read to get a wider or a deeper brow. I want to read occasionally for pleasure, just as other people go to football matches or the pictures or have a beer for pleasure. Why should we not be allowed to read for sheer recreation?”

Mr Lee said he had approached the 'Prime Minister (Mr Nash) about the book crisis. Mr Nash had given an assurance that the matter was receiving consideration. Mr Lee said a large number of booksellers had already used all their licences for this year and some were “mortgaged” until 1960. Shelves were emptying and a crisis was coming—for readers as well as shops.

One city bookseller today displayed these notices in his window: “New Zealand and Pakistan in May, 1959, are the only Commonwealth countries restricting book imports. “Child readers become the nation’s leaders, but import restrictions deprive New Zealand children of the books they need.” A spokesman for the Customs Department in Auckland said today that if an importer disagreed with a local decision whether a book came within the definition of “cultural,” the procedure would be for a copy to be referred to Wellington for an opinion. It was unlikely that conflicting decisions from port to port would arise.