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A Popular Vision: The Arts and the Left in New Zealand 1930-1950

The Demise of the Left Book Club

page 85

The Demise of the Left Book Club

Membership of the Left Book Club in England reached its peak in April 1939, at 57,000. From the early 1940s sales, membership and activity declined sharply. The organisation of discussion groups ceased in mid 1940; membership had already plummeted to around 25,000 by this time, and in the post-war years did not rise much above 15,000. The publishing programme was finally wound up in 1948.

The political energy and unity of the late 30s which had created and sustained the Left Book Club was dissipated both by the practical disruption of war and by the ideological confusion of the left in the years 1939-41. With the German-Soviet Pact and the outbreak of war, the selection committee of the club was for the first time divided on basic philosophical grounds. The club's strained relationship with the Communist Party during this period undermined the strategy of Popular Front unity (it had never in fact had the support of the British Labour Party). The changing political climate saw a change in the nature of the publications and in the content of the journal. Articles in the Left News now discussed in abstract terms the principles of socialism and democracy and presented debates on the political issues. The publications covered more general subjects, and sometimes represented contrasting views, as did the November and December 1939 choices on the Soviet Union, for example. Ironically, the Left Book Club became less effective precisely when it genuinely became the open forum for discussion it had always claimed to be: it 'had come to resemble more a debating society than an experiment in political education.'77 Gollancz's attempt to re-orient the club around the theme of Victory and Progress' in the post-war period could not recapture the enthusiasm and momentum of the 1930s. The club had thrived on the political certainties of the Popular Front period, on the specific issues around which opinion could be mobilised and on the appeal of a broad but undefined socialism. With its purpose now overtaken by events, it Tailed to maintain its influence beyond the outbreak of war'.78

The New Zealand branch of the club suffered a similar fate, although there was some time lag. The national association had been formed only some four to five months before the outbreak of war, and the president's annual report in April 1940 was optimistic about the club's ability to overcome the potentially disruptive effects of the war, looking forward even to a post-war Left Book Club:

There was so much confusion and uncertainty, and sheer fright, that it was even feared that the groups might go out of existence. . . . But we are gratified that differences of opinion on the war have not led to any disruption. The Association remained solid and has continued to function throughout as an organisation for political education. The downright editorials in the Bulletins . . . had considerable influence in keeping all groups on the original line.

page 86

Although a conference remit from the Wellington group alluded to the possible difficulties caused by 'the political line of the Selection Committee of the English Left Book Club', it appears that, within the national committee itself, support for the war prevailed, while the immediate issues confronting the left in New Zealand provided an independent focus of attention. The 1940 report also commented on the club's 'immunity from some at least, of the restrictions that war has imposed on the Club in England.'79

Despite these apparent advantages, however, the New Zealand groups also appear to have fallen victim to the war. No reference has been found to the association continuing to function far beyond its 1940 conference- Individual members in New Zealand continued to receive the Left Book Club books through the 1940s, and a few groups, Dunedin, Wellington and Auckland for example, continued for some time, but with a lower profile. Wellington's 'News-Behind-The-News' sessions lasted at least through 1942. But, in effect, the Left Book Club ceased to exist as a political organisation after 1940-1. In 1941 the Auckland Progressive Bookshop was selling Left Book Club tides at sale price because a number of members had resigned without notice.

77 Samuels, 'The Left Book Club', p.83

78 Ibid., p.81

79 Report of National Committee . . . 1939-40, p.6