CENSORED LITERATURE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16870, 7 June 1918, Page 4

CENSORED LITERATURE

GOVERNMENT'S POLICY. check: <>X lroi ,\( >. J) A. .!•• TF.V...RM'I! -IT— \ • ' :■ !\ 1 ■ -.y ] i'■ .in- ■'! !■ • the i.'! •••• lit:-; ' i V [lift I'i "I'M i 1 ; I• U:; - : \ ■. ; . i I t\-. !1- i 1 ■!: ti.- I. .Mil .... . , , f .-ci-tliu-i.it"!>* ti. < !- •• .... i.: . .iddras.-od t-. Mr J > !• \. . Mjr^fii: • :: th<- • ci: -.-.• ;" ■■ { , ti- !'• I.V the Mm :•••, .; ,| m A', ri'.fy C- irinl T) : r. ' rj... t:. : . ? r . < . entry into New 7. ■ \.v ! t n; ii,r , ] ; print I utai !< r. <r<- -!' • i'- 1 -- •• • . ; . f its i t ' " r . • lire id'd l.y the Me:--'-. {r . .• 'j . ,M'r -head" -» \ : j , p printed in .Ne" / • i.. :> tr> ■] led I ; t!i" . . !!• • ' .-■■■ .. ' T.i :!••> . r:r• :i 1"- of . .ir .!-•• -. . v..- hv.o ai ranged ;i'l t.--:i.. t- ■ ruining •J.,. v..)•!••!!> s :t" !• ■!. ard ,-j'i >.: 11- request Mi". -"»" tI! 11 = •;• ni I . ]\ l has kindly ■!;.-• «::• dto act is cens- rof nil literature r> i. . r-.:] to !: in by us and to advise us as in U> . h.i: a- K. r. Reasons for Prohibition, "Our duty is t,. p:-vont . i•:: i;- ~ ;] l3 war t!;o •iI; ti r■inv t: • u-.h'e fi.i- numerous ro.i.-- :i.-. <: « !si. ii ;t is .-n'y r.e. c.-.-nry at prt sent d. ?ine thi.-e genet < lasses :-- at Iff itenjcn; 1-. !ca.m'. ami' of the- law; ;!>) .-a.- h.,.! > a? having a tendency to as.-ist the enemy-. or i ■} so offensive in language. ai'eg.m...r .nsinuat ions as t<*. give r so to justinah'e resentment bv any r;a<•<<>? of the community. Under i !a.-s •• ; ««• have to .leal with the literature in respe- t of which you have made repi esent at ions, and of which the bo. ks and pamphlets already stopped at the Customs are examples, livery work must be eon.-idered and dealt with on the separate . on.-idoration? itfeetincr its. special character. but we Murk it j desirable to lay down for your Gaidar, e j sonic indhation of the general prir:ip!es I we propose to adopt in regard in the classes of printed matter which your | association desires to circulate. " Literature attacking any religions doctrine or political prinriji'.es is .iris' objei ti<iiiable if the language used is <-ntniveous in its vi-!en<v. Again. the attribution to a religious sei t of i.hjects dis- | tinct from the advancement of religion is I not of itself sufficient to justify iute-vijn-i tion by us. but the iiu'.ion of hahit'l.al j immorality to classes ,•{ persons who have | taken a vow of ce'ilwy is hevond the line j of possible controversy during the war. j Members of one of such ' ia: s c? canrc t defend themselves, and the public peace and safety would be endangoed if the circulation of such matter were permitted." Deputation to Minister. On receipt of this letter, the executive of the Protestant Political Associaton j appointed a deputation to interview the Ministers, and the interview took place on Tuesday. A report of the proceedings has been supplied by the Ministers. Mr. Dickson said the association wished to oppose the appointment of Mr- Chapman as censor. I Sir Francis Bell said the Minister for | Customs and he could not read all the j literature that might bo stopped bv ths Department, and thev had asked Mr. Chapman to advise them. The censor would have no further responsibility. th* actual decision remaining with the Ministers. The Rev. Howard Elliott said the Roman i Catholic Church had failed in the Supreme I Courts of Canada and the United States I to suppress certain books, which the New Zealand Government proposed to prohibit. If the books were true, there was no reason to complain of the use of the facts. If thev were untrue, redress could be cbtained in the courts of the country. He insisted that the writings were true, and that they should be to circulate, even at the expense of the hurt feeling of Roman Catholics. Sir Francis Bell : The question is lint whether it is true or not. The point is i that you should not at thus time proceed jto your proof or your attack. Why you i choose this time I do not understand. [ The country has entrusted to us the ; right of saying whether this is a fit tin-* | for such propaganda. Personally I disi'l:* I interfering with men in a manner which !in time of peace no Government could ! adopt, but I know that it is neccyarv ! that in time of war someone, or some bodv I of men should determine what is and 1 what is not expedient, and it is for the j liodv of the community until the end of ! the war to surrender their view of expe.lij eiicv. The Minister -olded that, be and his j colleague would take into further con- | sideration the arguments addressed to j him by the deputation, but that thev ; should have all the licence of peace in ; time of war he could not concede. I Mr. Myers endorsed and supported thn | opinions expressed by Sir Francis BeLL 1 ' '