SEX AND CRIME

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 27, 3 February 1939, Page 6

SEX AND CRIME

LITERATURE BARRED UNDER IMPORT SCHEME The importation of cheap American magazines dealing chiefly with crime and sex has been prohibited under the import control legislation, according to advice received in Wanganui. Representations for the prohibition of these magazines have been made by many religious and social organisations for many years. The supply of Australian periodicals, magazines and similar literature will from now on be made to hooksellers on firm order only, but the position regarding English and American matter is still obscure except in the case of crime and sex types of American origin. The restriction on Australian matter to firm order means that no returns will be allowed, and booksellers will therefore stock very little, if any, more in these lines above the number required for permanent customers. If the bookseller wishes to order more in expectation of casual sales he can do so, but unsold articles will represent a dead loss. Up to now the return system enabled the booksellers to return unsold copies and have an allowance, generally the full wholesale cost, made. The ban on crime and sex magazines applies mainly to the cheaper types of productions, most of which are American. One bookseller, while agreeing that this type of reading was of poor moral tone and herefore no loss to the community as a whole, said the ban would mean a big reduction in turnover. Imports were evidently going to be based on 1938 consumption figures, and although these were generally acceptable, they would penalise the bookseller who had built up the sales of any particular lines during the past year by exerting sales impetus in any particular direction.