SIR,—There is one distinction between books and motor-cars, washing-machines, etc.,
which, surely, even that author's friend, Mr. Barry, should be able to comprehend. Motor-cars and washing-machines are mass-produced in great numbers by a compara- tively few firms, and I have not heard that the manu- facturers of these useful items do not get a reason- able return for their labours.
But every book, even a bad one, is a one-off job, produced rather slowly, by hand, by one man, who usually has to do another job as well in order to live.
If the wretched penny a loan which the librarians resent so bitterly were to go to the publishers or the printers of books, Mr. Barry's arguments might just be tenable. As it is that anachronistic old work-horse, the author, who would benefit, they are totally unreal. —Yours faithfully,
HUGH POPHAM
28 Marlborough Road, Richmond Hill, Surrey
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