BACK-DATE MAGAZINES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22366, 13 September 1934, Page 10

BACK-DATE MAGAZINES

IMPORTATIONS FROM AMERICA LITERATURE OF LOW STANDARD (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, September 12. Information gathered from reliable sources indicates that every month from 80,000 to 90,000 back-date magazines are landed in New Zealand from the United States and that importations are increasing. As the British Government has imposed a prohibitive dumping duty of Is per lb on all back-date magazines imported from America, and as the Canadian tariff closes that market, American backdate exporters are turning their attention to New Zealand and Australia. These magazines are sold here at three or four for a shilling. This type of magazine sets a. very low standard. Many rely for their sales on the popular appeal of sensation, sex, and gossip concerning the- private lives of screen stars, and others capitalise crime. The censor is stated to be in a difficult position, as, although in deplorable taste, few are actually sufficiently salacious to be definitely banned. Many arc prohibited on account of the nature of the advertisements they contain, but such pages are removed.

SENSATIONAL FICTION IMPOSITION OF DUTY SOUGHT. (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, September 12. The imposition of a duty on the importation of back-date magazines from America was sought in the House today by Mr C. L. Carr (Timaru), .who gave notice to ask the Minister of Customs (Mr Coates) if he would follow the example of Britain in this direction. Mr Carr said the imports of these magazines, “which were composed largely of salacious and superaensational fiction,” were increasing and now exceeded half a million copies a year. Because the English market was now closed, this constituted a grave menace to the moral well being and literary progress of the Dominion. The growing sale of these magazines, which were retailed at exceedingly low prices by big stoies, had been a contributing factor in forcing a number of out of business, and by unfair competition had been partly responsible for the suspension of two magazines that were doing notable work for literature and art in this country.