N.Z. BOOKS IN LONDON

New Zealand Listener, Volume 31, Issue 795, 15 October 1954, Page 5

N.Z. BOOKS IN LONDON

Sir.-The whole question of New Zealand books in England, raised by Mr. Brasch in a recent letter, is of great importance to us: and I should like to enlarge his suggestion that we should at last have a properly organised book-shop-and perhaps a proper library?when Carlton House becomes our official headquarters. New Zealand books are notoriously hard to come by in England unless you are scouring the second-hand bookshops in London and the provinces for pioneering matter. They are also maddeningly hard to borrow. In 1949, when I was representing the Society of Authors on the Council of the National Book League, I suggested that it was time we had an exhibition of New Zealand books at the Society’s headquarters in Albemarle Street. Despite the raised eyebrows of the more hoary-minded English publishers, most of whom appeared to be still in the 19th Century in their conception of the Antipodes, and none of whom knew anything of the Caxton Press, I borrowed what I could from friends and showed it at the next meeting. On the strength of these few books (mainly the Centennial Surveys, with some examples from the Caxton, Pelorus and Pegasus Presses), I was deputed to sound both New Zealand House and Australia House on the project. At Australia House, where there is not only a well-arranged bookstall on the ground floor by the entrance, but also a magnificent library under expert guidance on another floor, I was made free of the place in order to see what was available. At New Zealand House an equal courtesy prevailed when, after wandering in murky corridors, I at last found someone who had any idea where books were to be found. But the "library" was a mere clutter of volumes, some still unpacked, some lying on the floor bloomed with dust waiting to be put away: and instead of a trained librarian with a competent staff there’ was only one harassed young man whose obvious interest’ had led the burden of. this "library" to be put upon him as an extra. The general apathy was such, that I came away feeling an exhibition of the New Zealand books then in England could not represent one half of the books available, and might do more harm than good, It therefore doesn’t surprise me in the least to find that the difficulties stressed by both Mr. Brasch and Professor Gordon have led, five years later, to New Zealand’s first book exhibition in London being a muddle. A muddle, because it was left to a few enthusiasts to spare what time they could from other work, in order to assemble it: and because they plainly experienced that same apathy about which I have complained above. Nor will any later exhibitions be much better unless we all, New Zealanders by birth or adoption, here or overseas, constantly stress the need for the whole question of New Zealand books to be taken seriously. In this, as in so many things, we must abandon our amateur status and turn professionalwe are — enough. Not only are our writers being published widely overseas, but some of the work put out by our presses is as fine as could be found anywhere. We should take pride in these arkable facts, and insist on establishng a show window in‘ London to display what a little country of two million people can do. We can no longer afford to disregard books, or push them to one side in favour of butter and mutton. Now, at this time, when a magnificent

new centre for New Zealanders and New Zealand’s best is being established in London-now is the time to press for the recognition of books as a national

asset.

SARAH

CAMPION

(Auckland).