EXTRAORDINARY TOY.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 939, 8 December 1933, Page 1

EXTRAORDINARY TOY.

“ Snake-in-Bible ” Said to be Blasphemous.

CANBERRA, November 24. An extraordinary “ toy ” of Japanese origin has been brought under the notice of the Customs Department, with a request that it be declared a prohibited import and seized on the ground of blasphemy. The toy consists of an orthodox-look-ing black book of small size, marked “ Bible.” The contraption is enclosed in a small case, from which it is drawn with the action of pulling a book frem a bookcase.

When this is done, the front cover flies open and a snake springs out. A case of these articles has reached Australia, and following the protest of a clergyman, the question whether the toy should be considered blasphemous and prohibited has been submitted to the Comptroller-General of Customs.

It is remarked that the manufacturers evidently foresaw the possibility of objection being taken to the toy, because the title cn the so-called book is given as “ Bible,” and not “ Holy Bible.” These two words are always given in English countries as the title of a copy of the Scriptures.