IMPROPER BOOKS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2914, 19 January 1910, Page 52 (Supplement)

IMPROPER BOOKS.

GREAT LIBRARIES TAKE ACTION. IFroii Our Own Correspondent. ) LONDON, December 3. The cry against “ wicked ” books, prob

Ism novels, and other “ spicy ” reading is biought to a definite point by the action which the big circulating London libraries took on Wednesday. The following letter addressed to the publishing trade will explain the situation Regent House, Regent street, W. December 1. Circulating Libraries’ Association.

Dear Sir, —A meeting' of the managers of 10 principal London circulating libraries has been held to discuss a matter which for some time past has | been causing annoyance to their .sub- i scribers and inconvenience to themselves. I We refer to the circulation by the ' libraries of books which arc regarded as 1

transgressing the dictates of good taste in subject or treatment.' Much undeserved adverse criticism has fallen upon the libraries, who in their endeavours to avoid giving offence have repeatedly called in such books from circulation, and in consequence have suffered considerable loss. In order to protect our interests, and also, as far as possible, to

satisfy the wishes of our clients, we have determined in future that wc will not place in circulation any book which, by reason of the personally scandalous, libellous, immoral, or otherwise disagreeable nature of its contents is, in our opinion, likely to prove offensive to any considerable section ct our subscribers. We have therefore decided to request

that in future you will submit to us copies of ail novels and any books about the character of which there can possibly be any question at least one clear week before the date of publication. Unless time is given to us to read the books before they are published, it is impossible for us to avoid that annoyance to our subscribers for which we, and

not the publishers, are generally held responsible. We trust that you will not consider that the action we are taking in this matter is in any sense an attempt on our part to become censors, and wc hope that you will co-operate with us by informing us that you consent to our request. A ill you kindly address your reply to Mr E. Winterton

hon secretary, Regent House, Regent street, W. —Yours faithfully, Mudie’s Select Library (Ltd.) W. H. Smith and Son’s Library. Boots’ Eooklovers’ Library. The Times Book Club. Day’s Library (Ltd.). Cawthorn and Llutt (Ltd ). At a meeting of the assooiatioin, held at

Messrs Smith and Son’s, Strand on Tuesday. it was agreed to classify all books as (a) satisfactory, doubtful, and (c) objectionable, and that the libraries concerned should be bound by the following rales: — (1) They will not circulate any novel until it has been submitted for reading at least one week. (2) They will at once advise the other

members of any doubtful or objectionable book. (3) They will not circulate or sell any book considered objectionable by any three members of the association. (4) They will do their best to make the distribution of any book considered doubtful by three members of the association as small as possible.

CONVERTING NEW ZEALAND BUTTER INTO AUSTRALIAN. The photographs above are of th lid of a tin of butter such as was supplied for some time in Kelai tan, Siam. A New Zealander stationed there was surprised on trying to remove the label to find (as shown in the second photo.) that the words “ Australian butter ” had been gummed over the words ' New Zealand butter." It appears from further inquiry that Australia is more likely to suffer from this fraud than New Zealand. The butter in question—which may or may not have been New Zealand make, a it was tinned by an Australian firm —was originally sent to South Africa some years ago. When the Boer war was over it was probably purchased by speculators, who no doubt thought Australian produce would sell better elsewhere than New Zealand made. At any rate, the brand was altered as shown, and the butter shipped to Siam. It is scarcely necessary to add that as the butter had been in the tins for some years it was vo v rancid and not likely to recommend the Australian product in Siam.