NEW ZEALAND BOOKSELLERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19687, 14 January 1926, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND BOOKSELLERS.

CO?TFEEEN r CE IN DUNEDIN"* WELCOME BY THE MAYOR. TRIBUTES TO THE EXHIBITION. The fifth annual conference of the New Zealand Retail Booksellers’ Association was opened in Dunedin yesterday, in the Returned Soldiers’ rooms. The conference is attended by about 70 delegates, including representatives from Australia and the Oxford University Press. Prior to the commencement of business the visitors were accorded a civic welcome by the Mayor (Mr H. L. Tapley, M.P.). This he said, was the first time within his knowledge that a booksellers’ conference had been held here, and it was particularly satisfactory to know that Dunedin.had been selected for this conference. Dunedin just now was full of interest —though it was always that—inasmuch as the Exhibition was in progress. Mr 'Tapley added that it was an extraordinary coincidence that two associations closely allied should be meeting in conference at the same time—the Library Association, which he had just had the pleasure of opening, and the Booksellers’ Conference. He was satisfied that the result of the forthcoming deliberations was going to be of great value, not only to themselves, but also to the community. On behalf of the Dunedin citizens he extended the visitors a warm and sincere welcome, and expressed the hope that they would find time to see the beauty spots of the city. He would also take the opportunity of extending a special welcome to two visitors from across the Tasman —Mr J. M. Forsyth and Mr George Robertson, of Sydney. Mr E. A. Rosevear, as president of the local association, also spoke a few words ot welcome, and added that it was pleasing to see that all the booksellers of Dunedin were represented. Mr J. M. Forsyth said that it gave him very great pleasure to reply to the mayor s cordial welcome. After commenting on Dunedin hospitality and Dunedin scenery, Mr Forsyth said that he ®fuld not sit down without making some reference to the Exhibition. Ho had heard people say that it was certainly a w 7 onderful Efxhibition for a small place' like this, but in his .opinion it would be a wonderful Exhibition for 6 city seven times this size. In conclusion, he congratulated Mr Tapley on his recent election to Parliament, and the citizens and electors of his electorate on their choice. The president of the association (Mr H. C. South) said that it was with a considerable amount of pleasure that ho learnt that Mr Tapley was to welcome them to the city. He knew that a mayor at all times was a busy man, and when an Exhibition was on he was busier still, therefore they appreciated his presence that morning. Mr South went on to say that ho was proud that the conference was being held in this city, as it was his own home town. The conference was possibly the largest, and certainly the most representative they had yet had, and as this was the fifth conference, it appeared that the lure of Dunedin had been responsible for a more representative gathering. “Our Australian visitors,” the speaker added, “are two of the three leading booksellers in Australia, and we all, more or less, tread very softly when we come into their presence. They are the big chiefs. Mr Forsyth has lately returned from England, where he has been inquiring into the possibility of cheaper books. As a matter of fact, hooks are very much cheaper now, though they will never he as low in price as in 1914, hut then the standard of living and the cost of living have advanced. The cost is not high and fiction can be bought here at the same price as in London. _ The reason for this is that publishers in the early days issued colonial editions because the colonists were few in number and with the passing of the years the practice has never ceased. Mr South also had a few words to say about the Exhibition. “It is a wonderful-Exhibi-tion.” he said. “I have seen a good deal of Wembley and I have no hesitation in saving that the general lay-out is comparable with and even superior to that of Wembley. It is brighter, and the lighting arrangements are superb, and better than those Wembley put on I saw the Toronto Exhibition as I passed through and it wasn’t to be compared with this OI Mr South concluded by thanking the mayor for his warm welcome.