INTERESTING DISCLOSURE RE BOOK-SELLING.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1216, 26 August 1911, Page 5

INTERESTING DISCLOSURE RE BOOK-SELLING.

TWO SYNDICATES MAY FIGHT. (By Tclcgranh.-l'rcss Association.) Duncdin, August 25. For sonic time a linn ul kiounbui.crs, and puuiiSiK-rs in mo tumiuuniviu.iii have luuuwml tilt, practice ol atcunna tho exclusive r.gms ol popular American noves tnrougliui'u .nisu.i.ia and Aew Zealand, and an Die ijuuk-seuiiig trade in/ tno Commonwealth ana uie Lummion have had to ouiam supp.K.-.-, tlirougn tins elian\ncl; a solitary importer lroni America ueing (Unit;! ilieiu. A second synaicato has recently been formed, in which, it is understood, a catling -New Zealand buok-scl.ing firm has a large interest. This syndicate is uirniug nilcntion to English novc.s, and already llinv have secured the Australian and New Zealand rights of half a dozen popular works ol fiction. In consequence ol what prnmfses to prove, a ...rrlailmi'iit of their' respective business, local booksellers are forwarding a strongly-worded Idler ot proleM to the Publishers' Association of Gnat Ilrilain and Ireland against what is in their idea an attempt at establishing au unfair monopoly. The dissenting booksellers allege, that, if the syndicate is allowed to pursue its plan- unchecked, Ihe outcome, will bo a _, monopoly nf the greater part ol the trade ' in fiction, leaving for tho rest of the book-selling fraternity only such business, as can be done with the individual customer over the counter at a greatly reduced profit. The protesting firms alleeo that tho latest move nn thf pari of the svndieato will tend, ultiniatelv, to eliminate/competition, and plaei. On reading public at the mercy of monopolists.