PRICE OF BOOKS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18896, 11 January 1927, Page 8

PRICE OF BOOKS.

PROPOSED REDUCTIONS,

BOOKSELLERS' CONFERENCE

[THE PRESS Special Bervic?,]

AUCKLAND, January 10. As a result of the efforts of the New Zealand Retail Booksellers' Conference during the past few years, books issued bv a number of British publishing houses are now sold in the Doniiniou at English published prices, and the conference, which met in Auckland last week, is making every endeavour to set other publishers to reduce their prices. The reductions will mean a considerable saving to booklovers. Mr G. H. Bennett, one of the vice--presidents of the New Zealand Booksellers' Conference, visited England last year, and acted as a delegate to the British Publishers' Association. He was er4P° we r*d to try and make some arrangement whereby it might be possible to bring; down the prices of books and last weed's conference passed resolutions and drew up suggestions which, if acceptable to the British Publishers' Association, will have the effect of reducing the prices of books. The change will not take effect for some time, as the proposals will have to be foiv warded to London for confirmation. Among the resolutions passed by the conference was one urging the Minister for Customs to remove the duty on kindergarten material and pictures required for educational purposes only. Another resolution called the attention of the Minister for Labour to the unfair position whereby tobacconists and others might sell periodicals after the hour at whioh booksellers were com* pelled by law to close. The conference expressed regret that the Postmaster-General did not accede to the request of retail traders throughout New Zealand to abolish the C.O.D. svstem, and strongly urged that this shi"Jd he done. The next conference will he held at "Wanganui.