§ 20 and 46. Mr. HAILWOOD(1) asked the Home Secretary what steps, in the way of criminal proceedings, he proposes to take in order to check the seriously increasing output of obscene literature having for its object the prevention of conception;
(2) asked the Prime Minister whether the Government intends to introduce legislation, on the lines of the French law of 1920, making it a punishable offence to publish or distribute books or pamphlets advocating or teaching the prevention of conception or offering for sale or advertising the sale of articles designed for the like purpose?
§ Mr. SHORTTIt is the duty of the police to take proceedings in any case where books of an obscene character are being circulated, but it cannot be assumed that a Court would hold a book to be obscene merely because it deals with the subject referred to. There is no present intention of introducing legislation.
§ Mr. HAILWOODIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that many of these books contain positively obscene drawings?
§ Mr. SHORTTNo doubt, it would be a question of fact in each case whether a book was obscene or not.
§ Sir J. BUTCHERIs it possible in this connection to prevent the publication in the newspapers of very undesirable matter which is given in evidence in the Law Courts?
§ Mr. W. THORNEIs there anything published in any book worse than the proceedings in the Russell divorce case?