Disagreement On Books Continues (Press, 28 August 1971)

Miss Patricia Bartlett from Wellington has expressed strong criticism towards the Booksellers’ Association over the open display of restricted material in bookstores. In her letter, she alleges that some booksellers are "blatantly exhibiting restricted material for all ages to see, pick up and peruse." In response, Mr G. Tait, president of the association, defended the rights of booksellers to cater to adult customers and suggested that Miss Bartlett's concerns might inadvertently attract more interest in the restricted books than the booksellers themselves. Miss Bartlett cited her disappointment with the London Bookshop's branch in Wellington, a member of the association, alleging that during her visits over the last two years, she consistently found restricted materials such as "The Last Exit to Brooklyn," "Walter, My Secret Life," "Fanny Hill," and "The Jewel in the Lotus" openly displayed. She pointed out that children visiting the store would have to pass by these materials, thereby increasing the temptation to engage with them. Despite reporting the situation to the Wellington police on two occasions, she claimed that the materials remained available for public viewing. She also noted the presence of similar material at another unnamed bookstore and raised concerns about advertising in two weekly newspapers and on the N.Z.B.C., which promoted "Man and Woman" during times when children were likely to be listening, including breakfast and tea hours. Mr Tait's reply prioritised the legal right of booksellers to display and sell adult literature, asserting that disregarding the adult clientele would be equally inappropriate as overlooking children's interests. He refuted Miss Bartlett's claims by highlighting the tribunal's endorsement of the publication under specific restrictions and pointed out that some parents choose to buy such books for their children, indicating a level of trust in their children's discretion. Tait acknowledged that while the association promotes public interest, Miss Bartlett's actions might be counterproductive, suggesting that her public denunciations of certain materials only fuelled the interest in them. His assertion underscored the association's commitment to balancing the responsibilities they hold towards their adult customers while also emphasising the importance of parental responsibility in monitoring what children are exposed to. He concluded by noting that Miss Bartlett's increased focus on pornography inadvertently amplified its allure.

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