CUSTOMS OFFICIALS SEIZE BANNED BOOKS

Chronicle (Levin), 16 April 1946, Page 5

CUSTOMS OFFICIALS SEIZE BANNED BOOKS

( Hnecial Australian Correspondenf .)

-X ^ SYDNEY SlTBtiltBAN LIBRARY SENSATION

kecoived Momlav, 7.15 p.m. SYDNEY, April 15. The action of Customs O.ticiais in M-izing three well known novels from a Svilnpy suburban library, has evoked surprise and some eonsterrtation among Australian booksellers. The piiblic is learning not only tliat -Australih.il hook (•ciisorship is strieter than that of New Zealand, but also tliat tlie list of offieiallv banned books is regarded as secret |.v the Customs Department. Booksellers liave known for some titne timi ulthough tliey aie liable to proseriition for selling such books, it is im piosible to obtain a list from the De jiiutnient. It is understood that a complcto list of banned books is not eveti available to the Mitehell of University liloaries. The Customs Depai'tiiiefit \s n-ason for lceeping it secret is that if it were mnde public, a prolitable black nrarket smuggling racket might develop. The Literature Censorship Board ap jininted by the UoifimOiiweaUh GoVeliiineut, is the authority for detefininiilg uliether books refefied to it Oti cofn ].laints, are suitfible for tlie ptiblie.iluoksellers have the right-of appeai to' the censor, Hir Robert (torran. li is Understood that the laSl hook hanned by the boafd was "Fofever Aaiber," which Wfts investigated following a coifiplaiftt by the Minister of Trade and Customs, Mr. Keane. DOsjiite this prohibitiofi, nieinbers of the bvilney public who are "irt the kiiQw, " ra a still purchase copies of this eoutmversial voltime. , Tlie Customs ' assault on tlie subitfban lil.ru ry followed a report by a Sydney rniiimnist that a copy of "Chinese lh.i.m" by Yivian Connell, was aVailal.le there to the public. The book had to i.e obtained from a subscriber. Eater ihe Customs offieials returned and con-fiM-ated it and copies of Tliortie Mmith's "Night Life of the Gods" and "Top jicr Takes fi Tfip. " Both these volumes have been 011 New Zealand bookstalls j sinee soon after they were publislied in I 1D52. They are certainly not iii tlie lutest novel class and were well known in Xew Zealand long before the motion pirture films of those names were re- • leared prior to the war. Most of Thorne Suiith 's books are believed to be on the hanned Hsf herq, but it seems impossihle ici uscertain which are and which are not. Three book shops in tlie centre of Svilucy are known, at which these hook> rau be bought. The librarian of the raided library said that "Chinese Room" had been 011 the shelves almost four years. She also staied that a parcel of thx'ee books from Aiueiiea, including "Forever Amber, ' «a» opened and the banned book extiarted. Three montlis later slie was atb i>ed of this and told by Customs 'V als that she was ltieky tu get the > Xr two books as the Whoie prtrcel was lial.Se to eoiiliscation. Copies of "Chinw 1'mmi" are still lieing circulated by otliei Sydney librftfies. Kiniueiit literary toen in Sydney are united against what Professor A. lv. Stout. professor of tnotal philosophy, Sydney Cniversity, calls "A star '•liainber svstem of book censorship tvhhdi eonccals even its own lindings. " bi'pttries reveal that the only list of haiiued books in the Customs Department is oite kept iu an old exercise book by clerlts in the invoice departineiit for their own tise. Blftck iftk etttries denote the banned bctoks and red hdi borderline ptlblicfttioits. COmplete lists of banned books are nO't hv&il&ble for tlie beiiefit of either booksellers oi Ihe public. Even national library offieials at Cahberra are riot atvare of any nllieial list.