CENSORSHIP OF BOOKS

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26094, 22 April 1950, Page 5

CENSORSHIP OF BOOKS

PRESENT METHOD “ HAPHAZARD ” DUNEDIN BOOKSELLERS’ CRITICISM (New Zeaiana Press Association ) DUNEDIN, April 21. Strong criticism of the present “haphazard” method of the censorship of books in New Zealand was made by members of the Dunedin branch of the Associated Booksellers of New Zealand yesterday when a resolution to draw the attention of the" Government to the report drawn up by the censorship committee convened by Dr. G. H. Scholefield in 1946 was adopted. The meeting decided to ask the Government that the recommendations set out in the report be implemented as soon as possible. A copy of the branch’s decisions is to be sent to its national executive in Wellington. The full recommendations of Dr. Scholefield’s committee were: “That if the prohibition of any book is contemplated, the matter should be referred to an advisory board of three members who should be free from political or commercial influence and chosen for their intelligence, integrity, and impartiality; that appeals against the decisions of such a board should be heard by an appeal censor who should be a legal person of high standing; that the decisions of censors should be communicated at once to the New Zealand Library Association (or principal librarians) and the New Zealand Booksellers’ Association. \ “That the New Zealand Censorship Board should co-operate closely with similar authorities in the British Dominions and the United States to obtain early information on advance copies of doubtful publications.” “That there should be no prosecution in respect of a publication which has passed the censorship board.”