CENSORSHIP OF BOOKS

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 208, 3 September 1929, Page 6

CENSORSHIP OF BOOKS

The Government might well pay some attention to the protest against the literary censorship) that the Otago Labour Representation Committee has passed. Not that we suggest that the protest is entirely justified. When the Committee refers to "the banning of all forms of working class literature," it obviously exaggerates; possibly its definition of working class literature is very narrow. But even among citizens who have no sympathy at all with extreme doctrines there has long been uneasiness about the censorship. Curious reports have been current about the banning of books that are openly on sale in other countries. In one case, we believe, an anti-Bolshevik book was banned on account of its title and cover. Decisions Seem to lie with Customs officials, and the board of bookmen that was appointed to assist has apparently only a consultative status. It would be interesting to know how often it is consulted and how many of its recommendations are| adopted. The censors should be concerned with only two questions—whether a book Is

grossly indecent or blasphemous, or whether it incites to violence of any kind. So longas a writer is guiltless of such offences he is entitled to say what he likes. This is the attitude of liberalism, and it should be the New Zealand policy.