BANNED NOVEL.

Evening Star, Issue 25593, 20 September 1945, Page 4

BANNED NOVEL.

The New Zealand Customs Department has banned the entry into the Dominion of Kathleen Wiusor's ' Forever Amber,' a best-selling' novel in America. It is possible that the banning of this hook would not have' excited general'interest had it not been for tho fact that there has been some controversy in Australia following a similar course of action there. Of the merits of this work we cannot speak with first-hand knowledge, but an analysis of critics' opinions leaves the impression that it is turgid and verbose with emphasis on the seamier side of life in a period of English history in which morals were of a vastly different pattern from those of to-day—" an exploitation of the bawdiest phase of ; the bawdy Restoration," one reviewer has said. It is some time since a novel was banned in tliis country, and a complete ban has not often been imposed. A full list of bannings has never been published, and there have probably been instances in which only the trade is in possession of the facts. Notable instances , of prohibitions known to the public have been D. H. Lawrence's ' Lady-Chatterley's Lover,' ' The Sleeveless Errand,' by Norah C. James, and the widely-debated New Zealand novel, ' The Butcher's Shop,' by, Jean Devanney. Others have come under suspicion, and importation' has been permitted at the importer's risk, but there has rarely been any action ensuing, since booksellers generally have exercised discretion in the matter of sales. Prominent among these works could be listed James Joyce's ' Ulysses,' loss of which would have been unimportant as ' the comElexities and distortions of the English mguage resorted to by Joyce—at their worst in 'Finnegan's Wafce '— demand so much concentration of effort in reading as to deprive them of even the elements of popularity. On the other hand, Joyce's works have been defended by students of the English language as important developments in writing and construction. The point that emerges from the .banning of 'Forever Amber ' —or any book—is the qualification of the person or persons imposing the ban. No one person can be set up. Us a censor of what the ipublic shall read, see, or listen to, since an individual opinion can remain only that. 'Forever Amber ' may be .very poor literature with only, a pornographic appeal, but it is not for one person or a very small body of persons to decide that the rest of the people shall not read it. The book could circulate among perhaps half the community without any effect, while, judging from the tone of reviews, the other half—and possibly more than that—would prefer to read something iriore entertaining and spirited. But there may be a section that would like to study it for various sound reasons. Customs officials, on whom banning devolves, are not chosen for their positions because of their ability to assess the literary merit of any work. Where they are in doubt, it is true, a special committee in "Wellington can give final judgment, but even ihen the matter does not end, since the p6licej may deem a work indecent. after it has been approved, and institute proceedings because of its sale. Actually.the law of the country which deals directly with indecency should be the final arbiter in the matter, and it should be under the terms of the Acts that any decision is made in regard to any disputed work.