Protest Against Ban On Book

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30391, 16 March 1964, Page 11

Protest Against Ban On Book

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

ADELAIDE, March 15. Australian artists and authors have condemned the banning in Victoria of Mary McCarthy’s best-sell-ing novel, “The Group.”

Among the signatories are Russell Drysdale and Sidney Nolan (painters), Xavier Herbert, Alan Marshall and Kylie Tennant (authors), Kenneth Slessor (poet), Robert Hughes (composer), Max Harris (critic), and Colin J. Horne (Professor of English at the Adelaide University).

Statement Of Views

Their statement reads: “We, writers and persons concerned with literature attending the Adelaide arts festival, view with disgust and dismay the action of the Victorian vice squad and State

Government in threatening prosecution of any person selling or distributing or loaning their personal copy of Mary McCarthy’s The Group.’ “The literary reputation of Mary McCarthy is a serious and important one, and her reputation as a non-porno-graphic writer is beyond dispute anywhere in the world —except, apparently, Victoria.

Breach Of Agreement

“We particularly regret the breaching of the 1962 agreement between the Commonwealth and State Governments on uniform censorship, as a result of which total disorder on the censorship question is likely to develop throughout Australia.

“We hope that the people of Victoria contemplate this action in the light of its effects on the whole of Australia as well as on their own civil liberties.”

No New Trial.—The Teamsters’ Union president, J. R. Hoffa, convicted on jury tampering charges, failed yesterday in a bid for a new trial. —Chattanooga, March 15.