Affidavit of J.W. Metcalfe - 21.4.1955 I, JOHN WALLACE METCALFE, 58 Hardy Street, Dover Heights, in the State of New South Wales, Librarian, being duly sworn, make oath and say as follows:1. I am the Principal Librarian of the Public Library of New South Wales, Executive Member of the Library Board of New South Wales, Vice-President of the Library Association of Australia and Chairman of its Board of Examination. I am a Bachelor of Arts in the University of Sydney and a Fellow, of the Llbrary Association of Great Britain. I have been abroad for the study of library services and the use of books under the auspices of the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the British Council and I have been a delegate of the Commonwealth Governmnent to the General Conference of UNESCO at which I was in 1947 Chairman of the Libraries and Documentation Committee. I was Deputy Principal Librairian of the Public Library of New South Wales from 1932 to 1942 and since that date Principal Librarian, abd during that time I have had to exercise control over the selection and irtoduction of literature to all classes including children of all ages in schools of the Education Department of New South Wales. 2. I have read copies of the books described on their covers as follows: No. 21 Real Story No. 22 & 24 Romance Story No. 23 & 30 Love Experiences No. 30 Real Love No. 46 Darling Romance No. 17a Popular Romance No. 18a New Romances 3. I have been informed by the solicitors for the appeallants and verily believe that these publications are distributed generally to all classes and age groups of persons in the community in all States of Australia. I have seen publications similar to these in subject matter, theme, characteristation illustration and presentation in the possession of three or four men aged twenty and upwards who are employed in the library of the N.S.W Film Council as film checkers in Sydney. These young men are of average intelligence and education and I verily believe that they and others of the same age who I have frequently observed in public vehicles habitually read such publications. 4. Having read these books I have considered them with the definition "objectionable" contained in the "Objectionable Literature Act of 1954" and in my opinion none of these books is "objectionable" in respect of any part of that definition, and in my opinion these books would not tend either as wholes, or in parts, to deprave or corrupt any persons or classes of persons or age groups by which they might be read. Copyright 2013 Blaq Books
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