1938-01-08 — Page 10

Page-10

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THE CHINA MAIL, JANUARY 8, 1938.

The China Mail

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trades of authorship and book- selling improve, but the best authorship" would gain—for pão- ple who are buying books as an investment will be anxious avoid buying rubbish,

Crime at the Source

One of the most important measures that will come before the British Parliament during the new session will be a Bill to amend the penal law; and of the reforms proposed none will be of more vital concern to the nation than those which concern young offenders.

The most profound element of tragedy in crime lies in its recur- rence. The majority of habitual adult offenders started on their melancholy careers when they were young.

Hong Kong, Saturday, January 8, 1938 terrence by punishment.

BOOKS FOR THE

BUYING

To-day reform of the criminal is an objective no less than de- Whe underlying idea of the Children Act of 1933 was to prevent the committal to prison of children under seventeen, sending them instead to remand homes where There has been much discus they could be kept undr observa- sion in the London newspapera tion till decisions could be taken recently on the subject of the as to the best course to adopt for price of books and the anxieties their welfare.

The results of this measure at of all concerned in the book trade

authors, publishers and bout first showed an increase in the sellers. It is not suggested that number of children brought be the British people read fewer fore the courts. But this was books than the literate people of que not to increased crime, but other nations, but that they to less unwillingness to bring spend too little in buying books offending children into court under these more humane- con-

as - possessions.

--

Where do they get the litera-ditions. More recent figures show ture that they need? From free no such tendency to increase.

subscrip public libraries, from

What has already been done tion lending libraries, by bor- for children remains to be done rowing in one way or another; for young offenders between seventeen and twenty-one, who and they purchase large num- bers of sixpenny and shilling at present, pending a decision of volumes. The booksellers are y

the Court, have to be remanded left lamenting that the majority to prison. But such measures of the reading public rarely buy are no longer felt to be enough in new books except when they themselves. It is better still to intend to give them

strike at the causes and prevent the impulse to crime." Christmas presents.

That is a task not for the criminal law but for the educationist.

away

There seems to be a certain justice in the obvious retort that new books are too dear--78. 6d.

for an ephemeral novel, 10s. 6d.

18s. or more for

travel &

a statesman or a film star. To

The Home Secretary has

in-

dicated that the new bill will take cognisance of three questions book, 15s. for the biography of the better education of the poten- tial criminal, the wiser treat- which the publishers in turn re- ment of the child offender,

and the ply that as long as the subscrip-

wiser treatment of tion libraries are t

ne young persons between seven-- the

chief buy-Poka

teen and twenty-one. éra the price must be high-

It is now

their purchases of most books fully realised that though society are limited, and production costs cannot undo the errors of the have to be met. So it is past, it is its duty to concentrate

Vicious

[lic will not the reading pub. on preventing

the future.

because books criminal class the growth of dear when the sales depend so The Most Important

are too dear, and books must be

much on libraries.

The problem is complicated by Film? many factors. If the best seller gamble were eliminated, and the What is the most important inordinate sales of the favourite film ever produced? Controversy of the moment were distributed

over this question has been among all the good books that a aroused in London by the very publisher had on his list, the successful revival of David Wark- trade would be stabilised to the Grinth's early American epic of great benefit of authors and the Civil War, "The Birth of a London Theatre Orch.publishers. Again, who can Nation.” Debroy Somers Band.doubt but that far too many It is recognised that the most His Majesty's Theatre Orch.books get into print? If wo important film is not necessarily London Theatre Orch. divided the number by three or the same thing as the best. Strans and Symphony Orch. four no one would be any the Otherwise, some of the produc worse off except a number of Lions of Charlie Chaplin would writers who have mistaken their demand inclusion in the reckon- vocation

ing. If sheer intrinsic merit Producers may agree to limit were the only criterion to be ap- the output of automobiles or plied it would be dimenit to over- gas cookers, but what publisher look such things as "The "Gold will agree to refrain from back-Rush" of "The Circus,” – ing his judgment in the issue of But the importance of a film a book, which may be just what is to be judged, not merely by the world is waiting for? Of its own achievement, but also by course, if every reader acquired its influence on future pictures. the habit of devoting a small Chaplin did not invent slapstick fraction of his annual income to comedy, he raised it to the stat book-buying not only would the of art.

Staritas Ambassador Band.

London Theatre Orch.

DX319-DALYS THEATRE WALTZ MEMORIES. „Charles Prenticè & Orch. DX414 THE MIKADO

Court Symphony Orch. Arthur Wood & Orch.

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