BANNED BOOKS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22398, 20 October 1934, Page 24

BANNED BOOKS

AUSTRALIAN CENSORSHIP MANY PROTESTS (From Ocb Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, October 11. In recent months there has been a great increase in Australia in the number of books the circulation of which is banned by the authorities It has never been made clear who is entrusted with this book censorship, but as any action in this direction is taken by the Customs authorities they have earned all the abuse that has been offering. Very likely the blame is placed on the wrong shoulders, but Australians would very much like to be introduced to the officials who have the morals and even the thought of the Commonwealth in their keeping. The restrictions on literature from overseas have definitely increased since the present Government came into power, and in some quarters this is regarded as an attack on the cultural atmosphere in Australia. Booksellers say that in some respects the restrictions may be likened to those imposed in Italy and Germany, although they are not nearly so severe. Many books with a “ left-wing ” tendency have been banned, and it is held that in this regard the Government is deviating from the ideal of democracy by reason. How can the Government expect the people to-reject Communistic philosophy, it is asked, without giving them an opportunity of making a reasonable examination of the subject and discovering its defects? It is complained that there are a number of books freely circulating in England which are not permitted to enter Australia. ; . t Owing to the actions of the authorities from time to time, the book trade is more or less disorganised. Frequently books are not banned until some time after they have entered Australia. One book sold freely in Australia for six months before the Customs authorities raided the various book shops and seized every copy that could be found. As a result of the uncertainty now existing, many booksellers order but half a dozen copies of most books, for, if a particular book should come under the official ban, no compensation is allowed. Every now and then there is a bonfire of the banned books. Booksellers are now considering plans to organise public opinion in the hope that the Government will modify its policy.