BANNED BOOKS

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 April 1946, Page 8

BANNED BOOKS

AUSTRALIAN LIST KEPT SECRET SYDNEY, April 16. Approval of the principle of keeping secret a list of “sexual and obscene” books banned by the Customs Department was expressed by the Acting-Minister of Customs (Mr. J. J. Dedman). “Give a list of banned books, and there are people who would immediately get them,”, he said. “I am definitely against giving any publicity to books banned because of sex or obscenity.” Mr. Dedman said that books had to be referred to the Minister before they were banned. The Minister then referred them to a literary advisory committee for advice. The right of appeal was pjjpvided for anybody who disagreed with the banning. • An earlier message said that the Acting-Prime Minister (Mr. F. M. Forde) will confer with Mr. Dedman on complaints that lists of banned books are not made available by the Customs Department. This follows strong reaction by booksellers, librarians, and the press after the confiscation last week of three books from the Double Bay library. A section of the Customs Act lays it down that -prohibited imports are to be forfeited except such .as are brought in by persons ignorant of the prohibitions. Under New South Wales law a constable can break into a private home and remove a book on a complaint that the occupier holds an obscene book for gain. i