A CENSORSHIP OF BOOKS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19279, 18 March 1926, Page 8

A CENSORSHIP OF BOOKS.

Emphatic endorsement has been given by the Congregational Union to the protests that have been made during the last few days by correspondents of the Herald against the circulation in New Zealand of '"immoral and suggestive" books. This class of debased literature is condemned as a menace to the morals and character of young people, to whom it is not only made easily accessible by its publication in cheap editions, but for whom it is very largely designed, since it is upon their immaturity of judgment that the authors and publishers rely for their prolits. The gravity of the problem is sufficiently demonstrated by the testimony of those who have witnessed its evil effects ; the difficulty of discovering a solution is confirmed by the fact that the evil has prevailed for very many years, and if it has been checked has not been eradicated. The Congregational Union has appealed to the Government to take drastic steps to ban this class of reading, by which, presumably, it intends that importation should be prohibited. Such a proposition obviously cannot be accepted by the Government, however sympathetic it may be with the anxiety of those who present it. It is virtually impossible for the Government or anyone else to define a standard for the proposed censorship, and practically impossible for customs officials to maintain an effective censorship over all literature entering the country. There is probably no broad solution for the problem ; certainly no easy one. Something may be accomplished by attacking it in detail, by asking the Government to stop the importation of a particular book or even the publications of a particular firm, proved to be specialising in the production of corrupt matter. Authoritative representations to reputable publishers whose vigilance has not been sufficient to prevent their presses being abused, may also be of value. The churches and other social organisations might also enlist the co-operation of all booksellers in the country to exclude such books from their stocks. By such methods, more might be accomplished with patience and persistence than by any drastic measures actually available to the Government.