Page:1954 Juvenile Delinquency Testimony.pdf/283

Rh area that onr traditional cherished concepts of freedom of the press and speech may necessarity be done vielence to by such governmental action,

The. Mr. Black, the Chair assumes froin that statement, that phase of your statement, that you would be opposed, von associa- tion would be opposed, to (he enactment of a law such as was de- sertbedt here today by the member of Parliament from Conacla.

My. Brack. I would say, sir, that any law that would infringe on any individual's freedom must necessarily

The. You heard Mr. Fulton's testimony, did you not?

Mr. Brack. I did.

The. Do you consider from his presentation that the en- actment of that law in Canada has weighed heavily against the right cof freedom of the press?

May. Brack. 1 would have to study the law and I would have to have it stuched for me: Lam nota lawyer, sir. But I would be very fearful ‘of any law that would infringe, as I say, on the basic freedoms of the country.

There is a tendency to expand Jaws that could be most harmful.

The. Thank you,

Proceed.

Mr. Brack. The Gathings Committee majority report states that:

Mr. Justice Douglas, of the United States Supreme Court, speaking in the case of Hannigan v. squire, fae, said:

12. The entire industry must constantly take steps lo clean its own house and continually be alerted to policing itself. While admittedly the independent. wholesaler ean contribute to some degree to this scheme of things, for the main part it is to the publishers and their immediate outlets, the 16 national distributors, in addition to the American News Co., that the public must look in order to,stop at its souree the objectional material being issned and sent on its way for reading by the pubhe.

Mr. . Mr. Black, the wholesaler actually does not see the magazines themselves until aftor ¢ they are off the press. You ave the first one whe gets the magazine. They come in to you from the printing plant at the order of the distributor, do they not? He does not see it unl} an advance copy comes toe him,

Mr. Buacx. Ile certainly sees then: before the wholesaler.

Mr. . But he does uot see the actual copy. He sees an ad- vanee copy. ‘They are mailed to you, or sent to you from the printing plant?

Mr. Buack. That is true. Vhevy are ordered threngh us by the national distributor, or the publisher from the printing plant.

But the national distributor or publisher certainty sees them.

Mr. . Do you think it is possible for the 16 distributors to do a more ellective job of reading all the stuff hat is coming off ihe press than tlie two hundred- odd wholesalers or is that not every- body's job?