THE CENSORSHIP.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16943, 18 January 1923, Page 8

THE CENSORSHIP.

TO THE EDITOR Sir, —I can imagine nothing more entertaining to thoughtful people thau the clumsy mental acrobatics of tho Minister of Customs and the Controller of Customs, in their attempts to justify the unjustifiable attitude that has been taken up by the Government in reference to the importation of certain literature. That statement was issued by intelligent men in high positions, yet it is the least cogent ami the most illogical that has ever been made on an important matter by men who are upholding an action of the Government. It is really unnecessary to examine it, because it contains nothing but a series of elaborate confusions. Worthless pornography is placed in a class as ” indecent .documents ” with educational works written in all earnestness by thoughtful people. But. say the prophets, let the people study matters that concern them vitally in medical books, instead of rushing off and accepting the opinions of some “ unqualified ” person. This is, no doubt, an excellent suggestion come to birth in a glorious moment of mental fertility, but medical books cost heaps of money, and an average person r. uld steer nothing but a blundering course through the fog of lechniea.ty. So much for that. There is yet another point. At the Science Congress yesterday there was an exhaustive discussion on the question of Edu cation and its relation to the prevention of V.D. Most of the speakers considered that it was the only wav to fight the devil, and even our own V.D. commission recognised its value. These are the intellectuals. Yet on the other hand we have one Government Department doing its host to prevent the dissemination of anything like knowledge. on the grounds that it tends “ to glorify- sex. as if it were the onlyinterest in life.” f>ex may not be the only interest in the life of the normal adolescent, but a devastating misery might easily come into that life through ignorance of sexual matters. -I am, etc., TOM JONES.