MUTILATION OF MAGAZINES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23118, 18 February 1937, Page 10

MUTILATION OF MAGAZINES

DISCUSSED BY LIBRARY CONFERENCE CENSORSHIP TOO RIGID (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, Feb. 17. The mutilation of magazines through censorship was discussed in a remit from the Canterbury Public Library at the conference of the New Zealand Library Association in Wellington today. The remit, which was carried, was that the attention of the Government be drawn to the unnecessary mutilation of magazines by the censor, by which portions of the reading matter were made useless and the public encouraged to further mutilation. Mr E. J. Bell' (Canterbury) said it would be interesting to ascertain whether magazine mutilation was carried on all over New Zealand or only in parts of the country. “I have ascertained from a reliable source that this mutilation is done by any ordinary Customs clerk,” he continued. “A great many people and I, for one. object to such a person censoring magazines. The whole matter is of vital interest to all libraries and magazine readers in the Dominion.” Mr Bell said he would like to know who had the right to censor all books that came into the country. . Mr C. W. Collins (Canterbury University College) said that material received direct from America was not mutilated in any way. “We ought to indicate that we do not believe in a very rigid censorship,” said Dr S. C. Allen (New Plymouth), who suggested making representations to the publishers, who would then probably be able to distribute their magazines unmutilated. “ The censorship is wrong,” he said. “ and we should not try too much to alter world events in a little place like New Zealand.” Mr E. E. Wiltshire (Linwood, Christchurch) also said obliteration was impossible, mainly because of the small magazine market in New Zealand. No doubt large circulations in Australia would account for the fact that undesirable advertisements were left blank. “All the same,” he added. “ most of the advertisements regarded as objectionable can be seen in New Zealand publications ”