Englishman's word
Sir: Why G. L. Bayliss in Canada (Letters, September 9) should expect English firms td send him books on credit is a mystery. No Australian firm would. The days when book buyers were ipso facto honest men have long since passed. It is far more reasonable to expect an unknown foreigner to send cash with his order than a firm to send him goods on credit. If something goes wrong, it is much easier for an individual to pursue a firm than for a firm to pursue an individual. Moreover, I regard it as only natural courtesy never to invite anybody to trust me if they do not know me.
For six years I have had an account with Blackwell's in Oxford. Once a year or so I go to the expense of sending a cheque by airmail at 35c to keep my account in credit. I order books by aerogram at 12c, and always immediately get an acknowledgement by aerogram in reply. The books come out as regularly as my Spectator, in six to eight weeks. With postage included, they cost about two-thirds as much as the same books in the shops here.
A. G. Bornford 43 Waller Crescent, Campbell ACT 2601 Australia
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