BANNED BY THE CENSORS

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12464, 4 June 1926, Page 6

BANNED BY THE CENSORS

“THE BUTCHER’S SHOP” A NEW ZEALAND BOOK WRITTEN BY WELLINGTON WOMAN Though the New Zealand Board of Censors has seen fit to ban the re-cently-published novel, “The Butcher’s Shop,” the book has been favourably reviewed in England, and is said to be enjoying a good sale there. The authoress, Mrs Jean Devanny, is a resident of Garrett street. Wellington,'and she feels very hurt by the action of the board. To a pressman who called on her the other day Mrs Devanny freely expressed her views. “No reason,” she said, “has been given me as to the reason why the book is banned. It seems very strange, because the book has been so well received by the English reviewers, and I have had some beautiful letters from responsible people in the Old Country. Also, I have been invited, since my book appeared, to join the Authors’ Association.” Repeating that no reason had been given her for banning the work, Mrs Devanny remarked that while the Board of Censors consisted of' three members —Mr Charles Wilson, formerly Parliamentary Librarian; Mr A. Baillie, Wellington City Librarian; and Mr South, of the Bible and Tract Society—and two of them were here, ’Mr Wilson being on the way to England. “Probably,” she went on, “the book was banned because of its brutality, but that cannot be helped, for it is a true story of New Zealand country life. I know it is true. I have lived in the country and have seen for myself. “Naturally I was very disappointed at my book being banned here, but it is possible the reason is that it would have been a bad advertisement for New Zealand. It would, too. But, I repeat, it is all true. Then, again, a good deal of the opposition to the book might be political. I cannot disassociate my writings from my Socialistic views, and the book was written with a purpose. “However, the censors here have given the book the best advertisement it could have. My publishers advise me they are delighted with the sales in England. There were a couple of the chapters at the end cut out, and I am sorry for that. It may be said that the book is brutal, but intellectual people who have rend it agree that for me to draw a logical conclusion I could not have ended it in any other way. What I have written is history down through the ages, and my theme was the subjugation of woman in all times. The title is chosen because the woman is butchered. It is a materialistic conception of history. Only a scientific Socialist will fully comprehend my object.” Mrs Devanny’s second book is now in the printing press in England. It is the story of the jazz age in Wellington. She is writing another ,on the subject of the sex life of peoples ancient And modern. Later she purposes to write a hook on the emotional life of tho Maoris.