CENSORSHIP OF BOOKS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 60, 5 December 1918, Page 7

CENSORSHIP OF BOOKS

TO REMAIN FOR THE PRESENT

STATEMENT BY. ATTORNEY'

GENEKAL

The question of the censorship of literature formed the subject of n stiitemi'iit by the Attorney-Oneral (Sm , Francis Ik'll) in the Legislative Council yesterday afternoon, following upon a question asked by the Jlon. \V. Earnshaw.

-Alv. liirnshnvr asked the Government— (I) Whecher it is their intention to continue to maintain tlio present censorship upon < so-called Protestant .iternture, including that now dclsiined for investigation? (2) Do they consider the censorship any longer necessary, feeinjj' that our enemies , hiivo surrendered (levls and lerrilOTiiv, and are.suing for peace? CI) Will they state when they intti.u -.•> ;e----lea<o tho literature that is now detained?

As u piei'ac-e to his reply. Sir Francis Hell said Iliat for some, lime pswt il Imil b»n his duty to ileWmine whether .literature of a character calciilatoil lo cause strife in the community during the. war should l>B circulated. K had also been the duly of the Minister of Custom* c« detain "fur oxant inalion papers, pamphlets, and Ixioks, which, priuui facie, were of such n character as hi> had described. There were Iwo chi.-.siv of such literature. Firstly, there was that of the extreme , inieialists, which advocated in violent tonus μ-ncticnlly auarehy. Secondly, there was a class of theological discussion in 'respect of which the Minister of Customs and l.iinself had laid down limits which, they considered should not Iμ , exweded. One of- the limits upon which they laid' emphasis was that rotating to charges of gross immorality aaginst certain persons who had taken a vow of celibacy, i.ml against another class of persons who, in the nature- of things, wero u noble to defend themselves, fie and his colleague had tried to do their duly to the best of Iheiv Ability. They had exercised lionest jiidsment.'aml they had employed a thoroughly capable and .independent gentleman, Mr. Marlin Chapman. K.C.. lo iidvisii them. The literature which Mr. Chapman had advised should'be detained had been read 'by them for, the purpose of satisfying themselves tlmt Mt. Chapman's judgment'upon the subject was correct. "L ean aesuco you that it is very 'trashy literature, and that it is nil pleasure to :go through it, added Sir Francis Bell, lie did not care who agreed with him, or who disagreed with him—he would lake exactly the same'action in tin? future as he had done in the past.in regard to the ola-.< of'literature which ho had mentioned. (Hear, hear.) The answer of the :GovcriiDißiit to the question which had been asked was as follows:— "The Minister of Customs and the Attorney-General arc satisfied that under the conditions" exis'tiiig'sihce Hie conclusion of the armistice with Germany it is no longer necessary to exercise the discretionary-powers conferred upon each of -lliciii respectively by statute and regulation lo the.extent which their duty lias hitherto required. The greater part of the literature 'detained at lli« Customs will be set free for circulation shortly alter the contusion of .the session. -V few ot the books and pamphlets which grossly transgress the rule against charts of immorality of celibates must still continue to be'prohibited, together with books and pamphlets advocating violent sedition, until peace is dually csl«blishcd. v The necessary selection of the ■■ documents to be still detained- prevents the- immediate liberation of the rest. Sir. Karnshaw: May /I ask the Minister if he will givo a statement' of the books which he" proposes to continue to prohibit? v : '~,,, T Sir Francis 'Bell: I have.' said that I cannot do it until titter thfi session, when I shall make a selection of the books. 1 have given the best answer ] can to'my lion, friend and Jiis friends who desfre to circulate this stuff. (Hear, 'hear, and laughter.) ' . llr. I?urnsha\v: I am not laughing ]ii.st now. My turn will come later. (