SALE OF “CHEAP COMICS”

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27395, 7 July 1954, Page 11

SALE OF “CHEAP COMICS”

Minister Replies To Housewives FURTHER PROTEST TO BE MADE Dissatisfication with a reply by the Minister of Education (Mr R. M. Algie) to a request for prohibition of the importation and sale of “morally cheap comics” sent to the Government by the Canterbury Housewives’ Union, was expressed by members of the union last evening. It was decided to send a further protest letter.' Mr Algie said: “The Government is also concerned about this matter, and has already taken action which it is hoped will be helpful. A short time ago an mter-departmental committee was set up to study the problem and consider various proposals suggested for the control of undesirable literature. The committee also made a survey of all comics on the New Zealand market. “Following its deliberations, moves were made to encourage publishers of New Zealand comics and importers of those published overseas, voluntarily to raise the standard of the comics they handle. Publishers have been cooperative with already beneficial effects.

“I do not think that an inquiry along the lines suggested in your remit would add materially to the fairly complete information now at the Government’s disposal. “You will, I am sure, - agree that teachers and parents both have a responsibility for helping children to develop better reading habits and to encourage discrimination in-the kinds of books to read There is evidence in the schools that the influence of te 2££ ers ip this wav is considerable. The possibility of -introducing suitable legislation for the control of undesirable literature has already received careful consideration. You will appreciate, however, that in any system of control by legislation it is of first importance to protect established JL" npl P le ’ re * at l ng J? the freedom of foe press and of publication. This factor has been much to the tore in discussion in this country and 2YF,L s t eas ; l n fa £ t ’*i her ? is . considerable doubt as to whether legislation offers problem 6ol solutlon to this particular

„ "I congratulate your union on its constructiye approach to this question,” the Minister concluded.

No Voluntary Censorship” One point that stands out is that evidently Mr Algie thinks the retailers, are censoring comics them- , said Jl le President (Mrs M. Adcodk) in discussion on the reply. . The comics we had at our last meeting were bought within the fortnight b “°re ® vld ently the retailers are n?* d °l ng T what -the Minister thinks they are. I would suggest just one woman or one sensible mother be employed censoring comics.” Mrs E. Locke said there had been a Thw S"j.i a K ut a adulta reading comics, iliey should be discerning enough not to be affected, but children had* more nf S ™™i ble u 1 think fhe content of comics should be controlled like aims, she said. are protected from all sorts of things connected with their health, Mrs Locke said. "If we are so anxious to protect them physically sL=>l„ t KL country u had done a great SS 37T1JKSU&3

Enlisting of Support Now we have started this controyef,sy - >i ?he ? aid - " we should keep the ba p rolllng by . enlisting the support of every organisation possible. We

next l< C»ffinrf g wr( 8 i depu tation to the Wh ° ° omes t 0 u ?j2 n should also approach the other 0 ir> M i r Macfarlane) and $d gXT of Parliamept ’ "The Minister seems to feel the made a ,ull investiSvani’ secretary (Mrs J. that see ms to have been ‘’STev are methods of control. ™ISLi d «2 t *£ eem J to have been consuch ”1 1* advcrse results from

Wrii it suggestion of Mrs R. StockM union decided to write again V%nnto3° veri : ment saying that any yo lun t® r y system of censorship was not working, as shown bv the purdn.ses ot" ade u recently. “The union tr»»ri y’ 1 . 5 2 1 t 0 interfere with the of t*?* Press, but it feels the yn- t^r2 S ; COn ’ c *nj° a different category. There is a need for their control." ne secretary was also instructed to ask the Government for the findings of the investigating committee.