QUESTIONABLE LITERATURE

Observer, 24 July 1909, Page 3

QUESTIONABLE LITERATURE

The "Herald's" Latest Lapse

THE godly and virtuous " Herald" has always been a tremen-

dous stickler for morality. It has used up pounds of printing ink and yards of space in hurling denunciations against wicked people who a.re supporters of that pagan and depraved amusement known as horse-racing. True, it has also continued to publish racing news and notes, but that, of course, was only to prove by practical example how horribly depraved that so-called sport really was. The " Herald " also holds some sublime theories concerning the necessity for maintaining a high standard of literature. Some time ago, it roundly denounced the public exhibition of living pictures of the "Ned Kelly" type. It is true that in the same issue that contained this denunciation there appeared a notification that the " Herald " had completed arrangements for the publication in its chaste columns of a sensational story of the bushranging days entitled "A Lindsay o' the Dale," but that was in order that people, by reading it, might understand what class of literature they should avoid in the future.

It might be argued that the manifold horrors that are published weekly in the " Herald " supplement are in striking contrast to the "Herald's" oft-expressed desire to uplift the literary tone of the present race. Probably, however, the " Herald " publishes these repulsive atrocities as horrible examples of undesirable literature. It is possible also that this was the motive that caused the "Herald" in last Friday's issaie to make the following announcement : " Arrangements have been made by the proprietors of the "Herald" for the publication of serial form, of an account of the career of Amy Bock, the extraordinary woman whose doings are without precedent in the criminal history of New Zealand. Long before her bogus wedding with Agnes Ottoway,, which has given her an almost worldwide reputation. Amy Bock's life was steeped in crime. The story, which will begin in to-morrow's issue, and be continued every Saturday, will give many biographical details hitherto unpublished, regarding her early life, her lapse into criminal ways, and her various trials and convictions for a string of offences that have since caused her to be adjudged an habitual criminal."

The "Herald,' 'in company with certain other high and mighty daily papers, looks clown with disgust from its virtuous pinnacle at John Norton's "Truth," and similar sheets. We do not for one moment mean to imply that " Truth " and papers of a like class are the type of literature that a family man should import into his home circle. But is the smug "Herald" any better ? Is the story of a woman whose life, in the "Herald's" own words, was "steeped in crime," the sort of literature that should be sown broadcast in the homes of the community ? The "Herald" claims to be a leading and high-class paper with a large circulation. Is the story of the career of a depraved female, who by her many crimes has been placed among the ranks of the habitual criminals, the kind of reading matter that a leading and high-class paper should gk»ry in placing before its readers ? Times without number, it has been proved that "literature" of this tvpe — which is in the same class as the " penny dreadful " — has a most pernicious and degrading influence upon the youthful mind. How will the fathers and mothers of the community enjoy the prospect of having the minds of their offspring corrupted by devouring the sensational rubbish that the high-class "Herald" is publishing concerning a woman Avhose life has been " steeped in crime" ?

There is another aspect of the matter to be considered. Both Amy Bock and Agnes Ottoway, her unfortunate victim, have many rela-

tives in the Dominion.. So far as Amy Bock is concerned, it is understood that she has relatives in Auckland. It might have been supposed that, if only out of a sense of decency, the "Herald" would refrain from shamelessly dragging forth into the fierce light of publicity all those nauseating details that are promised in the Amy Bock narrative. Apparently, however, the " Herald " doesn't care two straws for the feelings of the relatives of these two unfortunate women. Obsessed by the idea of publishing a sensational narrative, it casts all other considerations to the winds. The " Herald " evidently considers that the publication of the said narrative will be the cause of more people buying the paper, with a consequent increase in the shekels that are swept into the "Herald's" coffers. It is questionable, however, if the results will be equal to the "Herald's" anticipations. Heads of families will certainly not be anxious to introduce Amy Bock literature into their homes, and the. "Herald" is more likely to lose than to gain by its deplorable action. Which is one consolation.

We have no hesitation in saying that all the mothers in Auckland who desire to safeguard the moral welfare of their children, should rise up in united protest against. the "Herald's" latest plan for increasing its circulation. We have no desire to assume a narrow-minded attitude and to endorse the actions of the ultra-purists with regard to literature. We do not believe that people should read no other works than those of Maria Edgeworth, or Mrs Henry Wood, or E. P. Roe, or C. F. Sheldon. But there is a boundary line in all things, and the story of the career of a woman whose life has been " steeped in crime" is on the wrong side of that boundary line. We note, with regret that at least one other " leading and high-class" daily in the South is also pandering to the depraved taste by publishing the Amy Bock narrative. Truly, it would seem that for inconsistency and hypocrisy it is impossible to surpass a leading and high-class daily paper.

People sincerely desirous of the progress and well-being of the Dominion have been fretted and irritated because of Labour's ceaseless demands and insatiable cravings. But these organised movements can be, in practically every instance, traced to the scheming of paid secretaries in one district or another. — "Wellngto " Free Lance."

There is only way of surmounting the difficulty in bringing native lands within a reasonable time into useful occupation ; that is, to pass a measure somewhat on the lines of the Land for Settlement Act, under which action is taken behind the Crown grant and possession of land he-Id under this title compulsorily resumed by the State. — Hamilton "Argus."

The truth is that the benefits of artificially-raised wages in the end may be more illusory than real. This much is dimly realised by the labour bodies when they talk of artificially keeping prices down while artificially bringing wages up ; which, of course, is absurd. — Waipawa "Mail."

If laws, if armies, if navies, if police systems, if governments, exist to protect property, then those protected should pay in proportion to the protection they receive. — Napier " Telegraph."

New Zealand is a greatly undeveloped country, and it would be better for its progress if politics were relegated to a very subordinate position, while all citizens put their shoulders to help things along instead of squabbling among themselves. — Rotorua "Times."

The industrial history of New Zealand has given an unpleasant flavour to the term " trades unionist." It has grown to mean the intolerable, the unreasonable, the dictatorial. — Wellington "Free Lance."