PRICE OF BOOKS

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XXXI, Issue 8840, 4 November 1942, Page 3

PRICE OF BOOKS

REASON FOR INCREASE TRADING IN WARTIME > BEST SELLERS FROM AUSTRALIA Books figure prominently . among the goods in New Zealand that have gone up in prices as a result of the war. The chief reasons for the increase in price are the higher .price in England, the heavy "charges involved in wartime .trading and the 25 per cent, exchange rate.

Book prices were recently fixed by the Price Tribunal in consultation with book retailers. Only a reasonable margin of profit, it is claimed by booksellers, was permitted on all lines, yet in .some cases, particularly books published in Great Britain, the retail price in New Zealand is more than 100 per cent, above the retail price in England. One case of books valued at £26 19s 2d in England carried charges bringing the cost to £47 11s 10d by the time it arrived in a New Zealand shop. The retail profit permitted by by the Price Tribunal had to be added to that.

English charges were:—-Freight, £1 11s lOd; customs, 2s 6d; wartime formalities, 2s 6d; bill of lading and postage, 2s 3d; carriage to port, 5s sd; dock dues, port dues, etc., 5s Id; agency war supplement, 2s 6d; packing, £1 11s 3d; insurance, 3s 9d; surcharge, 6s 7d; war risk on shipping, etc., £4 Is 9d. That made a total of £8 14s 7d, bringing the original cost to £35 13s 9d.

To that amount had to be added 25 per cent| (£8 19s sd) for exchange. New Zealand charges for freight and customs (£1 11s 8d), and 3 per cent, primage (£1 8s), thus making the grand total £47 11s 10d. Imports By The Case

The most expensive way to import books was by the case, it was stated. Many retailers now have their orders sent out by parcel post. It was stated that some technical publications were expensive to import but very few books were sold at 100 per cent, more than the English price. Although the shortage of paper is serious for English publishers —they are allowed only 40 per cent, of what they used in 1939—another equally serious problem confronts them, the shortage of binding materials, which are made from cotton.

The 40 per cent, allowance does not mean that the production of books-is ieduced by the same amount. Thinner paper is being used and smaller pages and smaller type are other measures that make the most of available materials. A standard size book is now being produced, closely printed on poor paper. • Books that have proved outstanding best-sellers in England are,-in many cases, now being published in Australia by arrangement with the English publishers. These books are well produced and are printed on good white paper of a much heavier grade than that used in England. As a further development cheap books for children are being made in Australia. The high quality of these Australian productions was remarked on by a Paeroa retailer to-day.