“ENDURING PASSION.”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20786, 3 August 1929, Page 6

“ENDURING PASSION.”

BOOK BY DR MARIE STOPES. A BOOKSELLER PROSECUTED. (Peji United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, August 2. Norman Brown, a member of a bookselling firm, was charged with selling Dr Marie Stopes*s ** Enduring Passion/ 1 an allegedly indecent work. Dr T. 11. A. Valintine (Directorgeneral'of Health) who was called for the prosecution, said he considered it a “ perfectly beastly book,” which, if it got into the. hands of young people, would do a great deal of harm. Ho did not consider that any good would be done by the hook either to young people or married people of,, cither se.\. The author quoted authorities he had never heard of. He did not think that any medical paper would pay a compliment to the book Unless, he added, it were an American paper. What are the particular passages you objected to ? ” “ Tlic whole blooming book,” witness replied. the bobk was also condemned by Dr JI. H. Watt {Assistant'Director-general of Health). Detective Bayliss, who bought the book, was asked bis" age. ft Thirty-two,” he replied. “Are you married?”—"Yes.” “ Have yon read'this book? “ Yes.” “Has it depraved you at all?” Witness laughed. He said he hud travelled around the world a good deal and he thought it would take a good deal to deprave him; but there were certainly tilings in the book which were a surprise to him. Brown said he had never been asked for Dr Stopes’s books -by young people, lie did not think many people other than those who were middle-aged read her bonks. Young people, read either the classics or Edgar Wallace, or something similar. The magistrate (Mr E. Page, 8.M.) reserved his decision.