The Home Secretary, in reply to a Deputation on Demoralizing
Literature which waited upon him last Tues- day, was evidently favourably impressed by the view urged upon him that the police should not be deterred from prose- cuting poisonous books by the fear that they might not obtain a, conviction owing to some technical objection. "He would see what could he done in the way of taking risks in endeavour- ing to secure a more vigilant enforcement of the law." He also informed the Deputation that the Home Office had a draft Bill in hand embodying the Report of the Joint Select Committee of 1908. "it was a consolidating and amending Bill, quite sheet, and there ought not to be any very great difficulty in gelling it through the House of Commons."
" Many people were disposed to believe, bemuse they never, or hardly over, saw literature of this kind themselves, that the alleged preemie* of the evil in our midst was more or less of a mare's-nest The records of Scotland Yard showed that this was nob so. The police knew from experience that a very large quantity of hutment libernbure circulated in the most improper manner possible in schools among young boys and girls. Of course the sutlers, publishers, and distrientors hoped that a readier marks* weuld be found for it among those who were least able to protect themselves. He was entirely a supporter of free- dom of trade provided freedom of trade was for the public good. Show him any kind of trade which was not for the public+ good and he would become a public opponent of it This was not trading for the public good, and no mere general support of free- dom of trade in another connexion would doter him from en- deavouring to pub an end to a trade of this kind."
Mr. McKenna is to be congratulated upon taking the strong and direct line he did and for not attempting to shelter him- self behind generalities. The evident sincerity of his speech was a source of no small satisfaction to the Deputation.
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