§ 7. Sir OSWALD MOSLEYasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that a parcel of books addressed by the Maison de Livre Francais to Messrs. Birrell and Gannett, Ltd., booksellers, of No. 30, Gerrard Street, W.1, was held up for nearly two months in the Customs on account of the presence of a book by Monsieur Jules Romain, which had previously been imported freely to this country; that this book was subsequently released by the Customs with compensation for damage caused by its frequent reading by officials; that the package containing it also contained a book on Glacial Formations in Switzerland, which was also damaged; that the consignee's solicitors were informed that this latter work was seized under the doctrine of Taint; whether the consignees were given any formal notification of the seizure; and will he explain on what grounds instructions for taking such action were given?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Arthur Michael Samuel)I have been asked to reply. I understand that the consignment of books referred to was placed under detention by the local Customs officers on importation on the 19th November last. They were held up pending consideration of the question whether a work by Monsieur Jules Romain in the consignment should not be regarded as within the scope of the prohibition in Section 42 of the Customs Consolidation Act, 1876, against the importation of indecencies. As the book had not previously come under the notice of the Customs Authorities it was in accordance with usual procedure submitted to headquarters for decision. It was ultimately released on the 2nd January. As regards the particular prints referred to in the question, I do not know the names of the remaining books in the consignment. No compensation was paid. The action of the Customs in detaining the package was based on the provision of the law under which the forfeiture of prohibited goods may entail the forfeiture of the package in which the same are found and the contents thereof. No notice of seizure was served on the importers as the books were not seized but merely placed under detention.
§ Sir O. MOSLEYIs it not a fact that the Customs have undertaken to pay compensation for damage caused to this book?
§ Mr. SAMUELNo, Sir.
§ Mr. DAYCan the hon. Gentleman say why it takes between six weeks and two months to read a book or to inspect it?
§ Mr. RAMSAY MacDONALDCan the hon. Gentleman say whether in handling these books the Customs would exercise, not merely the red letter and the red tape of the law, but some ordinary common sense?
§ Mr. SAMUELWhy, yes, of course, the Customs authorities deal with these matters on lines of common sense. They do the best they can to carry out their duties conveniently to the public.
§ Mr. HARRISHave the Customs officials among them any literary experts or officials who claim to be literary experts, and, if not, did they act in this case entirely on their own initiative or on instructions from some Government Department?
§ Mr. SAMUELIt was not a question of the literary quality of the books, but a question of seeing whether the books contained anything that was indecent, which is quite another matter.
§ Mr. TAYLORHas any compensation been paid by the hon. Gentleman's Department, as is asked in the question, and, if so, how much?
§ Mr. SAMUELI have replied that no compensation was given.
§ Mr. DAYMay I have an answer to my question as to whether it takes nearly two months to form an opinon as to whether there is an indecency in these books?
§ Mr. SAMUELIt all depends on how long it is necessary to take to examine the matter.