Just 2 examples within one nation: My first book, published as I approached my ninety years, was a protest story. It hurt the heart of a historian when too many authors copy the old nonsense which keeps asserting, without proof, that not Hawaiians but New Zealanders, Maori, were the last Polynesians to settle down in their islands. In fact, there are a few powerful indications that nā Maori Kanaka got bogged down on New Zealand's North Island before the dawn of history & became the ancestors of all Polynesians.
Such strong evidence of a preferable "theory" spawned a few college debates, especially in New Zealand. No wonder that their colleges needed my book. Most of the original requests for my "Who Arrived First" honored me by requesting the donation of their copies. Late-comers offered to pay, & some did although nobody bothered to refund the expensive priority mail long distance.
The 2 most dishonest samplers were "good" New Zealanders. Posing as a good citizen, the manager of Unity Books, 57 Willis St., Wellington, N.Z., saw a good opportunity to profit from the college debate about "Who Arrived First". She sent me a book order via airmail, & I responded quickly & expensively. By Global Priority I sent her the requested number of books to be paid as requested, by me. (At that time my price was $19.95 as set by the owner of Middle Earth Book Shoppe, Kailua-Kona.) I added 10 more volume of the debatable book on commission. Furthermore, I included 5 free volumes of my "King Arthur's Roundtable?", of great interest to all English speakers.
That happened early in 2000. Patiently, I waited a full year before I requested payment. No answer, no money. After some encouragement by a member of the International Racket Police, I bought an air ticket to Auckland & Wellington via Honolulu to collect my dues. Arriving on December 10, 2002, I found the most prosperous book shop crowded with eager book friends even before finding a suitable hotel.
I was treated with great politeness as long as I seemed a searching, prospective paying customer. As soon as I mentioned that my books appeared to be sold, several employees turned wild & mean. They let me stand leaning on my cane too long for comfort even after I explained that this nonagenarian couldn't stand much longer in the pushing crowd of potential readers.
Finally, the manager arrived to tell me that she was too busy to deal with me because I had not sent with the books a bill they could accept. Half an hour later, she claimed that she had sold only one of my books. She had given free of charge 10 of them to students who wanted or needed them. She would not pay for any this late because she had closed her books on the deal 2 years earlier. Nor would the local police help me to the long overdue payment.
Some Maori women at the hotel mentioned a need of a Maori boycott of those dishonest bookies for which I had neither time or the necessary strength when I was told how important that thievish woman was. Still, I gave 2 of the contended books to 2 literate natives working at my hotel.
More recently, the bookshop of a university ordered a volume of my Maori best seller & worst payers. I explained that the $19.95 book price plus Global Priory Mail at $19 would exceed $30. The store would profit if they honored my enclosed bill for $30 & receive 3 volumes of said book by global priority mail. No protest & no payment thus far. Apparently, they want to compete with the crooks of Unity Books & blame China for pirating their own books. I now wonder who arrived first in the championship of criminal entrepreneurs, the Chinese or New Zealanders.
Since this culpable university bookstore bears the name of their city, I am reluctant to see the city & its educational summit be insulted by their thievish ally. At this moment, I enclose only a copy of my postal receipt for $19 postage & the words New Zealand. An educated New Zealander may urge the storekeeper to try & be honest. After the holiday feelings I feel free to publish the Customs Declaration of our U.S. Postal service which gives in clear print the return address of the sender of 3 books & the address even if that insults the thief, his university & the good name of a great town. Fairness forces such drastic step. Or would the once great government of New Zealand pick the robber & fine him hugely to same the honor of his university, his town & his nation & pay the owed $30 to this writer?
Week 65- December 15, 2004 - Here We Go Again And Again Again.