BANNED BOOKS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16942, 17 January 1923, Page 6

BANNED BOOKS.

A REPLY TO CRITICISM. In view of the comments which have been made in England with reference to the New Zealand censorship of books, inquiries have been made by a Wellington “ Post ” representative with a view tc. ascertaining either who was responsible for the censorship and banning of certain books, which have been the subject of recent comment, or what method was adopted in deciding whether a hook was suitable for sale iu New Zealand. The banning of the books is under the control of the Comptroller of Customs (Mr W. B. Montgomery). He stated to-day that after the censor had decided, that a book was unsuitable for the Dominion he (the Comptroller) took the necessary action to see that it was not imported. That was all the connection he had with the matter. The censor, whose identity he did not see his way to make public without the consent of the Minister and the censor, was not an officer of the Customs Department, but

was in another department, and worked where necessary in conjunction with the Crown Solicitor. He supposed that the censor, who had copies of the books supplied t'o him, read them, and on his own judgment decided Whether they were fit for sale. As far as he was concerned. the Department- had more important matters to deal with than complaints that this or that hook could not he obtained at any bookseller’s in the Dominion. It appeared to him that the people, or a certain number of them, and mostly women, rushed these books, and took the 'opinions of writers of tho most doubtful authenticity, instead of studying the matters that concerned them in the official medical books. It was in his opinion a matter that should bo taken up by the British Medical Association, who could turn out papers on the subjects concerned if they were required. He could not tell why the booksellers wished to import such books as 4 we re banned, and it was not right that a certain section ’of young men and girls and people generally at what was known as the adolescent age, should Lave access to their contents. “ EASY TO RIDICULE.” The Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon W. Downie Stewart) made the following statement in reference to the censorship : “ It is easy enough to ridicule any system of censorship : the effects of the censorship in England can be ridiculed just as easily hs the New Zealand censorship. Only yesterday an English visitor qf some standing in literary circles told me of the banning in England of certain classics which circulate freely in New Zealand. It is generally admitted that some degree of censorship is required, and I don’t think the public of New Zealand would be content tc see indiscriminate publication and circulation, of photographic literature pud pictures such as prevails in some European countries. “ If the necessity for censorship is rot admitted, we must rely on the Indecent Publications Act, which involves a prosecution before a Magistrate. This means that different decisions might be given in different districts according to the judgment of the Magistrate, and the prosecution serves as a splendid advertisement t’o the book, which is eagerly bought up all through New Zealand. If the mischief is to be dealt with at all it is better to intercept it at tlie source as far as possible by stopping it at the Customs or post office, and this is what is done. At the same time the problem has assumed a new phase owing to the enormous flood of literature dealing with sex questions which purports to have a scientific 'or medical basis. “ Many of these books appear to me to be written by people who have a morbid obsession and glorify everything connected with sex a.s if it were the only real interest in life. The value of these books entirely depends on the question into whose hands they come. If some system of control and distribution through reputable medical channels could be established the difficulty could be largely met. But their indiscriminate distribution among adolescents of both sexes does not seem desirable. There are quite a number of books and magazines on the banned list (which seem to be innocent enough, and others which are admitted which seem tc me very poisonous. “ However, I am conferring on the whole question at present with the At-torney-General to see if some system can be evolved which will allow for the reasonable entry of books which have some medical justification, and at the same time afford the booksellers some solution of their difficulty as to what is likely to. be banned and what not.”