DISPUTES IN THE BOOKSELLING TRADE. (From the "Western Times," May 22.)

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 676, 6 October 1852, Page 4

DISPUTES IN THE BOOKSELLING TRADE. (From the " Western Times," May 22.)

Our readers are aware that for some time past a dis pute has subsisted between several oftbe large publishers and a majority of the booksellers of the metropolis, forming the "Booksellers Association," on the one hand, and a ramoiity in numbers, of tlie publishers and bookeelleis, on the other. Books are supplied to the trade bv the publishers at a charge of about thirty per cent, under the selling price; the difference between the trade pi ice and selling price being the profit leceived by the tetail publishers. The object of the Booksellers' Association was to prevent booksellers, living within 12 miles of the General Post Office, selling works nt n greater discount than ten per cent, from the selling price. Aa we have said a majority of the puplishers were members of this association ; and, to compel the booksellers to adhere to their terms, they refused to supply the retail booksellers who sold at a lower rate than that fixed by the association, with any of thenworks. Some or the publishers have always refused to join the association,on the plain common-senseground, that a bookseller' having bought his goods, had a right to dispose of them as bethought proper. Mr. Chapman, the propnetor of the Westminister Review, acted in his spirit. He is both publisher and bookseller, and in a poweiful article which appeared in the Review for April, the lose to the public, and the unfair restrictions imposed on the trade, were shown up. The press took up the matter; and the association, finding that populai feeling was against them, offered to refer the question to certain gentleman of great liteiary celebrity, and to submit to their judgement. The free-tiade booksellers replied that as they asked for no restric tions, and as they wished only to buy and sell in the open market, they were not inclined to submit to any regulation which would interfere with the free coutse of trade, and raise the price of the article which they told to the public, They weie, however, quite willing so defend thu course which they had adopted, and to prove to any gentleman connected with literature, that the restrictions imposed, like all other monopolies, were an injury to authors, inasmuch as they made books dear, and therefore scarce ; whilst the higher price, instead of going into the pockets of the authors, went to swell the profits of the publishers, so that the system waa injurious to the public as well. Ultimately, Lord Chief Justice Campbell, the Rev. Dr. Mi I man the Dean of St. Paul's, and Mr. Giote, the banker and author of the only History of Giecce worthy of the name, which we possess, were selected. Both parties having been heaid, Lord dmpbell delivered a vc-iy elaborate judgement, in which he decides against the association, and in favour of Fieetrnde in books, 'I he arguments are veiy luminous, clear, and forcible. After showing that nono of the reasons urged have sufficient force to mnki» the bookselling trade exceptional, and therefore that the trade ought no longer to be carried on und' r the piespnt legulations, his lordbhip proceeds — " Wp We nei her intend to afliim, however, tlut eiCf93\e ptofits me received in any branch of the bookselling ti fide, nor do we impute blame to any class or individuals, although we consider that the system is faulty, and that the community would be Hulleu'ra by its con-

tiiuiance. We likewise with it to be distinctly understood that our disapproval of the ' Regulations' extends only ti> the pretension of the publishers to dictate the terms on which the retail bookseller shall deal in Ins own shop, and to the means employed for enforcing the prescubed minimum price which he is oulpred to demand from his customers. ''Thtse being nhirxloiied, if sc^nib, (torn the language of the resolution undpj which we act, that the association must bo di'-Mjlveil. " One gentlemen who addressed us, asked us, in case we should condemn the existing regulations, to frame new ones, under which the bookselling trade should be conducted. " 'I his we must wholly decline, a* being beyond our undertaking 1 , and beyond the powers conferred upon us. IVjhaps the bookselling trade will have the best ch.ince of flourishing' without any special regulation 0 of any sort. Let then 1 be entiie freedom in the transactions between the publishers and the retail booksellers, the publishers asking- prices, and mak'ng or infusing; allowances as they please. Let them deal with every ono (although ! unticketed) who biings money in his puise, ov whose responsibility is undoubted ; taking care not to encourage the long and lenevsed ciedils which are said, under the existing .system, to have produced so much mischief. The publishers are not hound to tiuat any one whom they believe to be sacrificing 1 his wares by reckless underselling, or to be carrying on his business without a piofit su/h'cic-nt for maintaining solvency. But let them not require any plege from the detail pealer to whom they sell tneir books as to the puce which ho shall demand in re-selling them. Thus, freedom of action, we hope, may tend to harmony and prosperity. We feel tlie most sincere respect and regard for the highly inteleefual and honourable body of men who are engaged in the bookselling trade. As author-, no aie deeply indebted to them for their valuable sal vices. <l And we shall amply lewarded for our labour and anxiety in this inquiry if we can contribute many degree to their permanent welfare, upon which we are convinced that the cause of literature in this countiy most essentially depends." His lordship having concluded. Mr. Lonci.ihn begged, on his own part, and on that of his brother publishers, to thank his lord--'np for the extremely courteous manner in which tbty had been received, and also for the very able leport they had just heard read. On one point, however, he wished to set his lordship right. Loid Camfblu, declined, hearing anything further on the subject, and the pioceedtngs terminated.

[By the last papers we learn that on the 28th ofMay a meeting of the Association was held in London, winch was open to the trade generally. Aftei a long discussion it was agreed to dissolve the Association, no other course appearing in honour consistent with the pledges given when the disputes were refened to Lord Campbell. Still, theie being much dissatisfacUon with the existing state of things, the following resolution, moved by Mr. Seeley and seconded by Mr. Bohn, was unanimously adopted : — "That the question of the system to be in futme adopted for the regulation of the trade b* referred to the following gentlemen, namely: Mr. Longman, Mr. Murray, Mr. Jlatchard, Mr. Colburn, Mr. Bentley, Mr. Smith, Mr. J. Miles, Mr. Gilbeit, Mr. J. Mills, Mr. Rivington, Mr. J. W. Parker, Mr Nisbet, Mr. Seeley, Mr. Sbaw, Mr. Bain, Mr. Walton, Mr. Moxon, Mr. Dalton, Mr. Higbley, Mr. Biog, Mr. J. W. Parker, Mr. Blackwood, Mr. 130 hn, and Mr. Nutt."]