POP GO THE ROYALTIES

New Zealand Listener, Volume 17, Issue 432, 3 October 1947, Page 19

POP GO THE ROYALTIES

| Written for "The Listener"

by

JOHN

STANNAGE

accepted for publication ‘overseas, so I concluded I had some literary ability. I wrote a biographical book. That cost me £150 and I debited it to experience. Then I had a letter from a London literary agent asking if I’d write a biography for one of the best-known publishing houses. Was this the beginning of fame? I wrote and said "Yes." They wrote and gave me the terms, I wrote and wrote and wrote. Finally a bulky MS ‘was airmailed. FEW of my articles had been My agents wrote in acknowledgment, while I began to plan my next bestseller. Back came the MS for corrections. I wrote some more. Then I wrote and returned the corrected MS with some pictures. Some time went by. Then I

wrote and asked when I could expect the first advanced royalty payment. The publishers wrote and said "pretty soon," and the book would be published in 1947. I wasn’t particularly interested in the publishing date. I wanted some money. I was really interested in writing because I wanted to earn some money. The publishers wrote me and enclosed a cheque. It was for £30, I expected £50 sterling as agreed. £50 sterling would be £62/10/- New Zealand money and to me that sounded like real money. But only £30. Why? I wrote the agents to find out, They wrote and told me the sad reason. English income tax was nine shillings in the pound.

To Royalty Brought Down Sterling: N.Z. Currency: &éead 50 (E) -ésd 62 10 0 62 10 0 2117 6 WE FS £26 5 0 By Income Tax England 9/- in £1 Stg. Agent’s Commission} 20%, Carried Down Sterling: -N.Z. Currency: & sa 22 10 0O 10 0 0 E&éad 28 2 6 32 10 0 40 12 21 17 By Typing Fees .5 Airmail letters Airmail Ist MS Airmail Corrected MS Reproduction fee for illustrations Reference Books 62 10 0 f aanso oo a Oo

"Air Pioneer"—Receipts and Payments Account