Novel Seized In N.S.W.

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32392, 3 September 1970, Page 11

Novel Seized In N.S.W.

(N.Z. Press Assn— Copyright)

SYDNEY, Sept. 2. New South Wales vice squad police today seized more than 400 copies of the banned American novel, “Portnoy’s Complaint.”

They raided two bookshops in the city shortly before midday. A spokesman for one of the raided bookshops, Angus and Roberston, said that three detectives had entered the shop with a writ. “They took every copy of the book in the place,” the spokesman said. Pocket Bookshop reported that its remaining stock o< 18 books had been seized A police spokesman confirmed that the raids had taken place but refused to comment further. A third bookshop, the Third World Bookshop, was visited by vice squad detec

tives who produced a warrant to search the store. They did not confiscate any copies of the book but did take the names of the manager and assistant manager of the store. At Angus and Robertson the store manager, Mr F. R J. Dingley, was presented with a summons, ordering the confiscation of the shop’s stock of the books. The summons, authorised by the New South Wales Chief Secretary, Mr Eric Willis, ordered the confisca tion of “Portnoy’s Complaint’’ and the prohibition of further Until the raid occurred Angus and Robertson was doing a brisk trade in the controversial book.

Nearly 2000 copies had been sold since Monday morning. At the Pocket Bookshop, the detectives showed the manager, Mr Jim Thornburn, a search warrant which also authorised them to con fiscate the books.

But they recovered only 18 copies, despite an intensive search.

Mr Thornburn said afterwards: “As soon as the detectives came in 1 warned the customers: they are here to confiscate these books. If you have got one in your hands get out quickly." Immediately after today’s raid, the general manager of Penguin Books, Mr Mickey, said that another 50,000 copies would be printed. He said more than 70,000 copies of the ’’ook had been sold since it was first released and there were no more in stock. He said that there had been a flood of inquiries from booksellers throughout Australia for repeat orders of the book. The book has not however, been banned by the Customs Department. It was produced in Australia and cannot therefore be called a prohibited import.