LOVERS OF READING

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 108, 2 November 1940, Page 17

LOVERS OF READING

NEW ZEALANDERS' TASTES

A special number of the London "Times Literary Supplement" Is devoted to a survey of the trade in books between Britain arid the rest of the Empire,, and in this New Zeaianders are stated to be intense lovers of reading, spending more per head of population on books than any other portion of the Empire.

The population of New Zealand is only about 1,600.000, including the Maoris* says the writer, but comparatively it may claim to be the largest book-buying country in the world. Some years ago an investigation showed that people in New Zealand spent about 25s per head per annum on books arid periodicals. Australia came next with about 17s 6d per head; Englishmen, on the other hand, are said to spend only about Is 6d per head New Zeaianders are intense lovers of read--1 ing, and 85 per cent of their books come from England.

Visitors to New Zealand are surprised at the size of many of the bookshops and the variet.v of their stock Practically every kind of book from the popular sixpenny to expensive volumes is' displayed, and the lay-out is so arranged that almost the whole of the stock is open to the public to inspect for themselves without discomfort. Even in provincial towns with populations of less than 30.000, such as Palmerstpn North. Gisborne, Napier, and Timaru, there are large bookshops which would put to shame most of those outside the larger cities in Great Britain.

The New Zealand bookseller is greatly handicapped by the high cost of landing his stock, which, as has been mentioned, comes almost entirely from England. This is due partly to the adverse rate of exchange and partly to other charges, such as freight, insurance, and cost of packing, which, unlike the exchange rate, have risen steadily since the outbreak of war. At the moment the charges on shipments must be in the region of 70 per cent to 75 per cent A number of publishers help" to overcome this handicap by. supplying many of their books in colonial editions or at special colonial rates. The prices of these books may thus be kept at least near to the English published prices. Where this is not done books published at.,,say. 10: 6d, 15s. and 18s. have to be sold at about 17s 6d, 255. and 30s respectively, arid thus become almost prohibitive.

What are .the books that have been most- successful in New Zealand recently?: The answer to this question would seem to indicate that the books mostly in demand are those that have also been successful in England. In fiction, for instance, there have been large sales for "Gone With the Wind." all of Cecil Roberts's novels, particularly "Victoria at 4.30," Cronin's "The Citadel," Dv Maurier's "Rebecca," W Brett Young's recent novels, also those of Rafael Sabatini, Gilbert Frankau. Naomi Jacob, Hugh Walpole, Dennis Wfiealiey. Kathleen Norfis, and P. C. Wren. "How Green Was My Valley •was, and still is. a "best-seller." and C. S. Forester's "Horn blower" novels have been well received. At the present time anything to dp, with aeroplanes is in good demand, particularly aircraft identification handbooks. Atj first-sight this seems rather strange. I as few people in New Zealand are ever likely to see the modern bombers and fighters, especially those of enemy countries, but probably these handbooks are sold to potential R.AF pilots, to be one of whom is the am bition of large numbers of the youth of New Zealand. There is always a large demand for books of travel and biography. A good instance is Lawrence's "Seven Pillars of Wisdom," of which hundreds have been sold, although the price is 45s or more, as against 30s in England. j It ma> be said that the prospects of the export trade at present are quite favourable in spite of such difficulties i as the import quota and the restrictions on currency export now in operation. Costs have risen grea Jj but, New. Zealand provides a small but1 steady market; of keen book-buyers, who look primarily to England for their supplies, and who readily absorb a substantial number of the best English publications. The distinct note of local patriotism, emphasised by the recent Centennial, and shown in the popularity of such native authors as Wtfiiam Satchell. author of • The Greenstone Door," and Nelle Scanlaij. lorms but a part pf the strong love of books which characterises the Dominion.