Publishing firm moving

Press, 17 July 1986, Page 3

Publishing firm moving

The manager of Whitcoulls Publishers, Mr Tony Izzard (left), will leave his Christchurch desk for the last time this afternoon, ending a cultural era for both Christchurch and Whitcoulls.

The publishing division of Whitcoulls is moving to Auckland, after the company’s head office management moved in May.

The division, established as the publishing arm of Whitcombe and Tombs, Ltd, has been in Christchurch for more than a century.

Mr Izzard has worked for the company for four years. Although the division will now be based in Auckland, South Island writers should not feel forgotten, he said yesterday.

“Over the years there have been a lot of very good South Island authors. We, cannot af-

ford to desert them.”

As the largest fully owned New Zealand publisher, would-be writers sent or brought their manuscripts to the Hereford Street premises at the rate of 300 a year, Mr Izzard said. About 28 books would be published annually, including commissioned works, but all the manuscripts had to be read, he said.

The division published books in a wide variety of fields. One of the most successful books in recent years has been a micro-wave cook book, he said.

At its peak about a year ago the staff numbered more than 12, but Mr Izzard will be the only one to move north.

The most noticeable division of Whitcoulls, its bookshops would not be affected by the move, Mr Izzard said.