Comics Banned In Australia

I discovered a very interesting newspaper item concerning the issue of banning comics and magazines in Australia. The period was in 1938. The news report was published in the Australian newspaper, The Sydney Morning Herald, 14 September, 1938. The heading is ‘More Magazines Banned’ ….

MORE MAGAZINES BANNED. Publications for Boys Included DETECTIVE "COMICS." Magazine distributors were notified yesterday that seven publications had been added to the banned list, including, for the first time, two classified in the trade as "comics." These "comics" arc publications for buyselling at 4d, entitled "Keen Detective Funnies" and "Detective Comics," both from America, where the price is 10 cents. Copies inspected last night contained principally a series of crime and adventure stories in picture form, crudely printed in colours. Some of the titles were: "Dictator of the Dope Dynasty," "Too Many Crooks," "Bayfront Cowboy," "Captain Jim and the Chinese Pirales." The names of the other magazines banned were: "Black Mask", "Clues", "Yellow Book", "Top Notch Detective", and "Gang Detective Fiction." DISCRIMINATION ALLEGED The secretary of the Associated Magazine Importers and Distributors, Mr. Boardman, said yesterday that the Government should immediately disclose to the public the full report of the Literature Censorship Committee, as a result of which it had been decided not to ban the Importation of the American magazine "Esquire." This decision is in conflict with the decisions of the Assistant Mlnister for Customs, Mr. Perkins, placing certain magazines on the banned list." Mr. Boardman said, "We claim that discrimination has been shown in the administration of the ban, and representations will be made soon to the Minister for Customs, Mr. White, for a complete review of the bans imposed during his absence abroad."