Case 18
- New Zealand Left Book Club Association
Tomorrow: a New Zealand independent fortnightly paper, 2nd September 1936
The Left Book Club was first discussed in New Zealand newspapers in August 1936. On 19 August an article appeared in an issue of Tomorrow, the progressive journal edited by Kennaway Henderson, that gave an overview of the Club and offering contact details for Christchurch newsagent, Harold Fenton. The following issue carried a full-page advert and enrolment form for the Club by Paul’s Book Arcade in Hamilton. Bookseller and publisher (David) Blackwood Paul (1908-1965) was the Club’s principal agent in New Zealand. He had met with Victor Gollancz on a trip to the UK in 1935-36 and secured the NZ distribution rights for the LBC.
Blackwood Paul (1908-1965), photograph. With thanks to the Paul Estate
The Left News, n.37 (May 1939)
This copy of The Left News bears the stamps of the Dunedin Left Book Club library,
A.H. Scotney, British Foreign Policy and the Second World War. Wellington, 1939. ZPAM 327 SCO
At its height the New Zealand Left Book Club groups had well over a thousand members. Over 100 members of individual groups came together at a national conference in Wellington over Easter 1939 and formed the New Zealand Left Book Club Association with Winston Rhodes (1905-1987), as president and Douglas M. Martin (1903-1981) as vice president. Twenty-six groups were established throughout the country between 1937 and 1940. The Association published four pamphlets between 1939 and 1941 of which Heritage Collections has three: A.H. Scotney, British foreign policy and the Second World War (Wellington, 1939), B. E. Souter, The Soviet Union and Finland (Christchurch, 1940), and J. W. D. Hall, New Zealand farming: what of the future? (Auckland, 1941). D. M. Martin’s The War Behind the War (1940) was withdrawn from publication following Martin’s conviction in the Supreme Court for making ‘subversive statements’ in speeches to anti-conscription meetings at Wellington Trades Hall and Miramar.
A.H. Scotney, British Foreign Policy and the Second World War. Wellington, 1939. ZPAM 327 SCO (Rear)
The rear of Scotney's pamphlet shown here bears the stamp of the Central Labour Bookshop, 9 Broadway, Dunedin. This bookshop was opened in May 1937 and managed by someone associated with the Communist Party. It was closed down shortly after the outbreak of World War II following threats of physical violence from militant RSA members.
A.H. Scotney, British Foreign Policy and the Second World War. Wellington, 1939. ZPAM 327 SCO (Rear)
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B. E. Souter, The Soviet Union and Finland. Christchurch, 1940. ZPAM335 SOU
J. W. D. Hall, New Zealand farming: what of the future? Auckland, 1941. ZPAM 630 HAL
