Donner and Blitzen!

In a letter published in your issue of 13 March, R. Wilkes complains about the pricing of German text books at the University Book Centre, and remarks: "The German lecturers say "tut-tut, what a scandal" but nothing is done."

May I point out that neither myself nor any of my colleagues ever said anything of the sort to anyone. On learning of the gross discrepancies in pricing between Whitcoulls and the University Book Centre (on March 5 at the first meeting with the first years), I immediately made enquiries of Whitcoulls, who by researching into their files ascertained what a justly calculated price should be for the texts concerned. I then confronted the Book Centre with this information. The manager confessed to over-pricing through a mistake, and had in fact already reduced excessive prices: one text was reduced from $5.15 to $2.70.

A notice informing students of this, inviting them to apply for a refund, and giving informa- page 19 tion about other German texts, was posted by me on the German Department notice-board on March 8. It is still there. At the earliest opportunity (March 12) I also made an announcement to this effect in class.

All this would seem to me to amount to more than saying, "Tut-tut, what a scandal".