ALLEGED INDECENT BOOK

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 3 August 1929, Page 6

ALLEGED INDECENT BOOK

PROSECUTION FOLLOWS SALE

CBy T«Ugraph—Praia Awooiatlon)

WELLINGTON, 2nd August. Norman Brown, a member of a bookselling firm, was charged with selling Dr. Marie Stopes’s “Enduring Passion,” an allegedly indecent work. < Dr. T. if. Valintine, Director-General of Health, who was called for the prosecution, considered it a perfectly beastly book, which, if it got- into the hands of young people, he considered would do a great deal of harm. He did not consider any good would be done by tho book either to young people or married people by either sex. The author quoted authorities he had never heard of. H e did not think any medical paper would pay a compliment to the book, unless, lie added, it were American. “What arc the particular passages vou objected to?” "The whole blooming book,” witness replied. The book was also condemned by Dr. Watt, Assistant Director-General of Health. Detective Baylis, who bought a book, was asked his age. “Thirty-two,” he replied. “Are you married?” “Yes.” “Have you read this book?” “Yes,” “Has it depraved you at all?” Witness laughed and said he had travelled round the world a good deal and thought it would take a good deal to deprave hlni, but there were certainly things in the book which were a surprise to him. Brown said he had never been asked for Dr. Stopes’s hooks by. young people. He did not think, many people read the books, and they were middle-aged. Young people read either classics or Edgar Wallace, or something similar? Mr Rage reserved his decision.