Banning Of Book (Press, 30 June 1962)
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Summary: Banning Of Book (Press, 30 June 1962)
On 30 June 1962, it was reported that the book "The Way of Love," by New Zealand author James Courage, has been banned by the Customs Department in New Zealand. The book, which features a homosexual theme, had been available to the public since February 1959. Courage, originally from Christchurch and now residing in England, is recognised for his work as a novelist and has written several other titles such as "The Fifth Child" and "Desire Without Content." The assistant librarian at the Canterbury Public Library, Mr J. E. D. Stringleman, stated that to his knowledge, the book had not been brought to the attention of the advisory committee to determine whether it should be classified as an indecent publication. He mentioned that despite the ban communicated by the Customs Department, the book had already been available for over three years and those interested had likely read it by now. He noted that while there had been a few reservations for the book, overall demand had been low. A representative from the Customs Department indicated that they were not aware of the reasons behind the ban, as no formal notification had been received from their head office regarding the decision. The representative expressed a belief that banning the book was unnecessary. A survey conducted among several booksellers in Christchurch revealed that none currently had the book in stock, although it had been available for purchase when it was first released. One bookseller suggested that the reason for the ban could be related to an upcoming paperback edition, although major paperback publishers did not list it in their schedules. James Courage was born in Amberley, New Zealand, and was educated at Christ’s College. He is known for his contributions to literature, particularly in exploring themes related to identity and sexuality.
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