CUSTOMS VOTE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 263, 5 November 1937, Page 8

CUSTOMS VOTE.

PASSED BY HOUSE. QUESTICN OF CENSORSHIP. MINISTER EXPLAINS. ( liy 'IVlfjjrnph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. One indication of the Government's desire to exj»edite the session was a notice of motion by the I'riine Minister. Mr. Savage, when the House of Representatives met this morning, that Government business would in future take precedence on Wednesdays. The Estimates were considered, attention lK'ing given to the Customs vote of £12").000. The Minister of Customs, Mr. Nash, when asked to explain the censorship, said it was confined to indecent and obscene literature, which was not delivered. Where there was incitement to violence and crime this was a matter for the police, but when political thought and economics were involved he did not think anyone in Parliament was in a position to say what people should read. The present basis of censorship was limited to the exclusion of obscene matter.

Mr. G. W. Forlies (National, Htiriinui) expressed concern that Communistic literature advocating the overthrow of democratic government should be admitted. He said it was not limited in circulation to university professors. Mr. Nash replied that New Zealand was following the British practice of allowing the right to a full expression of thought.

When Mr. Ravage moved the closure on tlie Customs vote at 12.50 tlie Opposition made no objection and tlie vote was passed. The House then proceeded to deal with a vote of £161.H70 required for the Land and Income Tax Department.