Writer Sees No Need For Book Censorship

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31662, 24 April 1968, Page 14

Writer Sees No Need For Book Censorship

There was no need for censorship of books, for persons must themselves be responsible in their reading and not rely on the Government, said a well-known German writer now visiting Christchurch, Mr Siegfried Lenz. It was of greater benefit to mankind to have complete freedom of the arts than it was to ban some artistic works just because they might be dangerous to a few, Mr Lenz said. In West Germany there was no censorship of literary material, although a person who felt offended by a book could complain to his local judge. If he agreed, the judge could withdraw copies of the work in his area.

This happened only rarely, and in about 95 per cent of the court cases that had resulted from such complaints the books had been freed for sale.

In Denmark, a country where he spent much time, censorship of books and magazines had recently been abolished, and it had been found that this caused no danger at all. In fact, books and magazines which had previously been sold “under the counter” had gone almost completely out of favour with buyers since they became freely available.

“It is much the same as with alcohol—when there is prohibition everyone wants to try it,” Mr Lenz said. Mr Lenz, who is married and lives in Hamburg, has

visited both Turkey and Australia in the last few weeks, ind after visiting Wellington and Auckland will return to Germany by way of the United States.

His hobby is fishing. He has fished once since he arrived in New Zealand and hopes to do so again before he leaves. Mr Lenz spoke to students of the University of Canterbury, and he will also speak to the newly-formed Goethe Society. His visit is sponsored by the Goethe Institute in Germany, which promotes German culture and language overseas.