New Zealand Gazette – 1967 – No. 82

Page 2289

✨ Indecent Publications Decisions

20 DECEMBER THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE 2289

Indecent Publications Act 1963

IN the matter of the Indecent Publications Act 1963, and in the matter of applications by the Comptroller of Customs in respect of the following books:

Female Masturbation, by G. Lombard Kelly, M.D., published by Monogram Publications Inc., Inglewood, California, U.S.A.

Sexual Anatomy, by Joseph Dow, M.D., published by Monogram Publications, Inc., Inglewood, California, U.S.A.

Female Auto-Erotic Practices, New Illustrated Edition, by Havelock Ellis, M.D., published by Monogram Publications Inc., Inglewood, California, U.S.A., and

Unusual Female Sex Practices, by David O. Cauldwell, M.D., published by Banner Books Inc., Inglewood, California, U.S.A.

DECISION OF THE TRIBUNAL

THESE four books may best be treated together. All may be regarded as useful textbooks, but a close review strongly suggests that the object is not to provide such matter-of-fact information as should be available in good textbooks but to pander to prurient interests. This view is supported, for example, by the following facts:

(i) What purports to be a reprint (in part) of Havelock Ellis’s massive study is, in fact, no such thing, since the version printed is inconsecutive and incomplete, and includes interpolations presumably of editorial origin, but nowhere accounted for.

(ii) In Unusual Female Sex Practices, much space is devoted to notes and case records, in revolting detail, beyond what the thesis requires.

(iii) The illustrations generally promote no scientific purpose beyond what is already attained in recognised textbooks and some are of prurient interest only.

(iv) Even in Sexual Anatomy, where the field would appear to be clearly defined (as well as unexceptionable), there is irrelevant material designed to titillate rather than to inform. It may be added that editorial control of these books has failed to regulate their grammar and spelling and to remove minor inaccuracies, all of which reflects upon the integrity of their production.

The Tribunal decides that all four of these books are indecent within the terms of the Indecent Publications Act 1963.

L. G. H. SINCLAIR, Chairman.

14 December 1967.

Indecent Publications Act 1963

IN the matter of The Indecent Publications Act 1963, and in the matter of an application to the Tribunal for a decision in respect of the book The Harrad Experiment, by Robert H. Rimmer, published by The New English Library Ltd., London.

DECISION OF THE TRIBUNAL

The Harrad Experiment has been submitted to the Tribunal by leave of the Minister of Justice, for classification. Submissions were made in writing by the Justice Department, and through counsel for the publishers.

This novel, already popular in the United States, and now reprinted in England, is a limited-field “Utopia”, being a description of an experiment in co-education at the A-plus under-graduate level in a mythical Massachusetts university. The author is advocating a radical change in sexual mores, which he claims is in the interests of individual fulfilment, proper preparation for marriage, family life, and social responsibility. He pleads for greater sexual freedom with more informed and serious attitudes as an antidote to unhealthy sex-preoccupation. Sexual episodes and practices are described in student “diaries” and discussions but these, though tedious and sentimental, are relevant to the theme and there is no obscenity or prurience—nor, for that matter, any notable literary merit.

The author is in time-honoured fashion using the novel to put forward his ideas, which run counter to the moral code accepted by our society. Some people may consider that the acceptance of these ideas would, in terms of section 2 of the Indecent Publications Act, be injurious to the public good, but the suppression of minority views, seriously put forward, may be equally injurious to the public good. The concluding discussions raise many important issues with what appears to be an honest purpose.

Consideration has been given to the question whether the book should be classified as indecent in the hands of young persons. We do not think it would appeal to young adolescents. The tedium of the book would be likely to prevent any but the most serious minded from reading it, and such readers would be unlikely to be corrupted by it.

For the above reasons, we do not classify the book as indecent, nor do we impose any restriction on its circulation.

L. G. H. SINCLAIR, Chairman.

14 December 1967.

Notice of Varied Hours for Sale of Liquor at the Canterbury Hotel, Lyttelton, and His Lordship’s Hotel, Christchurch

PURSUANT to section 221A (16) of the Sale of Liquor Act 1962, as inserted by the Sale of Liquor Amendment Act (No. 2) 1967, I, John Lochiel Robson, Secretary for Justice, hereby give notice that the Canterbury Licensing Committee, on 7 December 1967, made orders fixing hours other than the normal hours for opening and closing of hotel premises for the sale of liquor to the public as follows:

Canterbury Hotel, Lyttelton—

Monday to Saturday inclusive, open at 8 a.m., and close at 7 p.m. (Grant limited until 30 November 1968).

His Lordship’s Hotel, 106 Lichfield Street, Christchurch—

Monday to Saturday inclusive, open at 9 a.m., and close at 8 p.m. (Grant limited until 30 November 1968).

Dated at Wellington this 14th day of December 1967.

J. L. ROBSON, Secretary for Justice.

(J. 18/25/237)

Notice of Varied Hours for Sale of Liquor at Stanleys Hotel, Macraes; Chicks Hotel, Port Chalmers; George Hotel, Port Chalmers; Mackies Hotel, Port Chalmers; Marine Hotel, Port Chalmers; Port Chalmers Hotel, Port Chalmers.

PURSUANT to section 221A (16) of the Sale of Liquor Act 1962, as inserted by the Sale of Liquor Amendment Act (No. 2) 1967, I, John Lochiel Robson, Secretary for Justice, hereby give notice that the Dunedin Licensing Committee, on 24 November 1967, made orders fixing hours other than the usual hours for opening and closing of Hotel Premises for the sale of liquor to the public as follows:

Stanleys Hotel, Macraes—

Monday to Friday, open at 11 a.m., close at 6.30 p.m.
Re-open at 7.30 p.m., close at 10 p.m.
Saturday, open at 11 a.m., close at 10 p.m.

Chicks Hotel, Port Chalmers—