Book Censorship (Press, 11 July 1962)

The treatment of James Courage's novel "A Way of Love" has brought attention to the need for reform in New Zealand's book censorship laws, which Mr Hanan, the Minister of Justice, is advocating for. This situation highlights the inefficiency of the current censorship system, as libraries and booksellers were only recently notified to withdraw the book, despite it being available in New Zealand since February 1959. Critics argue that the censorship process has been ineffectively managed. Notably, Courage's book was not reviewed by the independent advisory committee meant to evaluate its literary quality and other pertinent aspects. Instead, the recommendation to possibly take action against the book was made by a departmental committee comprising officials from the Customs and Justice Departments along with the Crown Law Office, who solely advised that "certain action" might be warranted upon the book's importation or display, lacking the authority to outright ban it. The criteria used to deem books acceptable or unacceptable in New Zealand remain ambiguous, primarily because no explicit reasons were provided concerning "A Way of Love." This novel addresses homosexual themes, raising concerns that if it were excluded solely for that reason, other respected modern novels covering similar material would also need to be banned. Reference was made to Sir John Wolfenden, who chaired a British Royal Commission discussing homosexuality and noted the importance of producing reports that any informed member of the public could understand. There are questions as to whether New Zealand's censorship body would also react similarly to the findings of the Wolfenden Report. Courage's book appears not to have been evaluated based on its literary merit, as there lacks any indication of such an assessment being conducted. Critics argue that had it been reviewed for its literary quality, it would likely not have been deemed unacceptable. Furthermore, it is posited that the book does not contain pornographic content. A reviewer from "The Press" noted that Courage's examination of the subject was "sober, serious, and dignified," suggesting that the disapproving actions stemmed more from the themes explored rather than the quality or explicitness of the writing. If the interdepartmental committee were to pursue a consistent stance and act against all literature that examines homosexual themes, it would risk undermining its credibility. Such an approach could galvanise public support for the reforms that Mr Hanan seeks to implement regarding the censorship of books in New Zealand, addressing the inconsistencies identified in the current framework.

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