BANNED BOOKS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 695, 22 November 1933, Page 5

BANNED BOOKS

PROTEST AGAINST SENTENCES PASSED ON THE DISTRIBUTQRS DEPUTATI-ON TO MINISTER Wellington, Tuesday Some lively exchanges took place between the Minister of Justice and Mr. P. Fraser, member for Wellington Central, during the course of a deputation, asking that the sentences of six months' imprisonment imposed on six men convicted of endeavouring to distribute seditious documents should be remitted. The deputation consisted of Mr. F. W. Ongley and Major N. Pharazyn, from tbe Workers' Defence Organisation. The Minister declined the request, remarking that the men concerned had decided to break the law in spite ox official warnings and must take the consequences. Mr. Fraser introduced the deputation, and in the course of proceedings made some reference to Carlyle in the history of the French Revolution, which caused the Minister to say that surely Mr. Fraser did not place these men with Carlyle. Mr. Fraser retorted: No more than I would place you with Carlyle. The Minister said there was no need for Mr. Fraser to lose his temper. . Mr. Fraser wanted to put the literature which led to the charges on the same basis as history. All the matter complained of was available ■ to anyone in books. He likened the censorship to the burning of the Bible or Hitler making a bonfird of books which he did not like. The Minister: "You don't approve of the police taking action in these matters?" Mr. Fraser : "I think the police are silly to do so." Mr." Fraser added that every time there was a prosecution the publications were advertised a huttdredfold. If an airned uprising was definitely advocated then it would be right for the State to take action; he would take action in such a case himself.