Censorship By Customs Denied

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30378, 29 February 1964, Page 5

Censorship By Customs Denied

(From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, February 28. Claims that in spite of the existence of the Indecent Publications Tribunal, the Customs Department is still apparently conducting its own form of censorship of literature coming into New Zealand were denied by official sources today.

The charge arises from booksellers receiving an advice list of books which are considered doubtful by Customs Department officers. This was done before the introduction of last year’s legislation, and it was then interpreted as a warning, indicating that violation of the customs edict would result in prosecution.

The official explanation of the continued issue of the list is that the Customs Act has not been amended, and that the Customs Department, being the authority charged with stopping the entry of pornographic material at the ports, must make up its mind at once whether publications which appear to be indecent are to be left in the list seen by the booksellers. Not “Closed List” It is not in any sense a "closed list,” as copies are lodged in the public libraries in the four main centres. As a matter of courtesy, these lists are also sent, to booksellers. Anyone has the right to challenge a decision of the Customs Department. He may apply to the Minister of Justice for leave to take his objection before the tribunal. If the Minister withholds this permission, he may make his application direct to its chairman (Sir Kenneth Gresson). This enables an authoritative decision to be obtained on any doubtful book. The authorities feel that there is ample provision for an interested person, notably an importer or bookseller, to have his position clearly defined with a minimum of expense and trouble. The Customs Act declares it to be unlawful to import into New Zealand any of the goods specified in a schedule to the act. This schedule specifies all indecent documents within the meaning of the Indecent Publications Act and all other indecent or obscene articles. The Indecent Publications Tribunal is charged with the determination of the charac-

ter of any book or sound recording submitted to it for classification.

The Comptroller of . Customs or the Secretary of Justice may submit any book or recording to the' tribunal for a decision. The tribunal will have its first meeting on Monday morning in Wellington.