IMMORAL LITERATURE.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12545, 22 May 1909, Page 4

IMMORAL LITERATURE.

At Christchurch the other day, Mr G. W. Russell, M.P., introduced a large deputation, which comprised a number of ministers of religion,school teachers and others, and which laid before Sir Joseph Ward the necessity -for further legislation to prevent the dissemination of immoral and obscene literature. Bishop Grimes said he felt sure that as soon as Sir Joseph was made . aware of the growing evil in regard to the spread of immodest, indecent, and filthy literature, ho would do all in his power to stop it. A department which had the control of such matters had been established in the United States. The word "censorship" was an ugly one, and one that naturally provoked feelings of revolt, and whilst he had, on several occasions, referred to the clean Press of New Zealand, and . whilst he was a supporter, of the liberty of the Press, he thought that most people knew the difference between the freedom of the Press and the shameless license. His Lordship also suggested that there should, be authorities in each municipality who would have power to suppress books of the character indicated. - Bishop Julius said that some time ago he.nad been personally asked to prosecute in respect to certain books which he had examined ; he had never TeacUanything more filthy, or more calculated to demoralise young readers. ' After considering the matter, ho decided that it would be impossible for him to take action first, becauseit would make the matter very public, and would, especially in the prosecution failed, advertise the booKS. The prosecution had been taken up by the police, had failed, and the result had been a great -demand for the books. Personally he much objected to the censorship of the Press. There were certain newspapers published in the Dominion that were utterly disgraceful. Mr D. N. Adams said that the _books which formed the basis of th© prosecution- in this , city -were beyond expression the filthiest conceivable. Since the prosecution, these books • were still being openly sold in the Dominion. . Mr G..E. Salter, as president of the V.M.C.A., said that that Association was anxious to have the literature of the Dominion purified. • Mr S-C- Owen, headmaster of the Bast School, said that schoolmasters • found that the elder .children had no difficulty in obtaining the class 'of books referred to, and they had td institute a censorship and had to do a- great deal of . cohfiscar tion. He suggested that there should be a list of proscribed litera.tur, and even though it meant, the employment of a reader by the Government, he would be very glad if there was some censorship. Sir Joseph' Ward, replying, said the matter would receive the fullest consideration _ of the ' Government, which recognised the importance of preventing the dissemination of the classes^ literature referred to. . The difficulty wais to. establish a system the machinery of which would "not be regarded as interference with the liberty of the Press. The difficulty of censorship was so great that he would not go into it at all. The Government had had representations on the subject from other parts, "and the representations of the deputation would be added to them and would receive careful arid full consideration. — "Press.",