Book Censorship

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29871, 11 July 1962, Page 12

Book Censorship

The treatment of James Courage's book, “ A Way of “ Love ”, emphasises the need for the reform of book censorship that the Minister of Justice (Mr Hanan) is planning. The inefficiency of the present system is shown by the fact that libraries and booksellers have only recently been warned to withdraw the book from their shelves though it has been freely in circulation in New Zealand since February, 1959. The censorship has also worked in a typically clumsy way. The book was not submitted to the independent advisory committee set up to examine the literary merits and other relevant matters. The departmental committee of officers of the Customs and Justice Departments and the Crown Law Office had no power to ban the book: they merely “ advised ” that “ certain action ” might be taken if the book was imported or displayed. The standard by which books are judged to be suitable or' unsuitable for New Zealand readers is hard to discern when no reasons are given for the decision on this particular, book. It is a novel about homosexualism, but if it is excluded from New Zealand bookshelves on that ground alone, a good number of other books would also have to be excluded—-

some of them highlyregarded modern novels. For that matter, the chairman of a British Royal Commission, Sir John Wolfenden, has said that, in writing a detailed report on homosexualism, he and his colleagues had very much in mind that “ besides “carrying out our duties to “ two Secretaries of State “we should also produce a “ document which any in- “ telligent member of the “ public could read ”, Would the New Zealand departmental committee warn booksellers and libraries against the Wolfenden Report?

Mr Courage’s book was not judged on its literary merits; and there is no suggestion that it was. Had it been so judged, it would not have failed the test. Nor is it pornographic. While holding reservations about the book, “The “ Press ” reviewer at the time said Mr Courage’s approach to the subject was “sober, serious, and digni- “ fied ”. Action was taken against the book because of its theme. If the interdepartmental committee was consistent and took action against all books that included homosexual studies it would make itself so ridiculous that Mr Hanan would have overwhelming support for his reform of New Zealand's book censorship.