4 SEPTEMBER
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE
1673

Decision of the Indecent Publications Tribunal

No. 147

IN the matter of the Indecent Publications Act 1963, and in the matter of an application by the Secretary for Justice to consider a hard-back edition of a book Glover, by Francis Pollini, published by Neville Spearman Ltd., London, 1965.

DECISION OF TRIBUNAL

THE Tribunal ruled on a paper-back edition of this work in 1967 (New Zealand Gazette, 6 July 1967, No. 43, p. 1161), and judged it to be, in that form, indecent. This decision was arrived at after considering both the substance of the book and its likely readership if sold in paper-back, according to the principles enumerated in section 11 of the Statute; particularly subsections (c) and (d), which require the Tribunal to take into consideration the persons, classes of persons, or age groups by whom the book might be read and its selling price.

In the present edition there are no substantive changes in wording or content. Its main theme, in the words of the earlier judgment, “is an account of the sexual activities of an American airman, related with much detail; he is depicted as being brutal in his approach to women and girls and to have shown some violence”. Its language is often coarse and its fictional account of life at an American air force station in England, and the corruptibility of its members, may be distressing to any reader who accepts it too literally. The almost total absence of worth-while values allows the reader no escape from the sordid and hateful world depicted.

Nevertheless, the Tribunal considers that the book is not without serious intention; nor is the narrative wholly without sophistication; and compared with some books considered by the Tribunal, the descriptions of sexual encounters and brutality may even be thought to show a certain reticence in the writing. In fact the language, incidents, and natures of the main characters are self-exposing; the characters may survive, as evil will in a corrupt world, but there is no glossing the repulsive nature of lives lived in self-assertive sensuality or cringing capitulation to intimidation at the hands of others more powerful in position or physique.

While such a book could be distressing to younger readers, to whom a paper-back edition might make it too readily accessible, the Tribunal considers that adult readers should be permitted access to work of this kind (no worse because it is fiction than much already conveyed in popular entertainment media) and have the right to make their own judgments on the information it conveys. Bearing in mind the restrictive effect of hard covers and price, the Tribunal therefore declares this hard-back edition of Glover to be not indecent, except in the hands of persons under 18 years of age.

F. McCARTHY, Deputy Chairman.

21 August 1969.

Decision of the Indecent Publications Tribunal

No. 148

IN the matter of the Indecent Publications Act 1963, and in the matter of a magazine, My Love Story, No. 1, 1968, published by Top Sellers Ltd., of 95 Great Portland Street, London, submitted by the Secretary for Justice.

DECISION OF TRIBUNAL

THE work contains some 10 stories very much of a “magazine” type dealing with allegedly romantic situations.

The theme of all the stories is very much the same. Although the language used is suggestive in some instances, it is not grossly so. There is little suggestion of vice or perversion or of violence.

The presentation is, however, of such a nature that, in our view, it could well debase an impressionable reader’s ideas of sexual activity.

We find for this reason that this work is indecent, except in the hands of persons over 18 years of age.

F. McCARTHY, Deputy Chairman.

21 August 1969.

Decision of the Indecent Publications Tribunal

No. 149

IN the matter of the Indecent Publications Act 1963, and in the matter of a book Ladies of Vice, by G. R. Scott, Tallis Press, London, submitted by leave of the Minister of Justice.

DECISION OF TRIBUNAL

THIS book is issued as a completely revised version of A History of Prostitution, which ran to three editions. The treatment is systematic and matter of fact, though questions of accuracy may arise; as when it is said, in part three, that there are “no brothel prostitutes in England” today, as there are in various foreign countries. No sensational twist is given to the narrative or the author’s comments; and the Tribunal decides that the book is not indecent within the meaning of the Act.

F. McCARTHY, Deputy Chairman.

21 August 1969.

Decision of the Indecent Publications Tribunal

No. 150

IN the matter of the Indecent Publications Act 1963, and in the matter of a book, The Master Masochist, by L. von Sacher-Masoch, Tallis Press, London, submitted by leave of the Minister of Justice.

DECISION OF TRIBUNAL

THE Tribunal has already considered and decided upon two examples of the work of Leopold von Sacher-Masoch (New Zealand Gazette, 21 November 1968). The book now submitted is more substantially representative and includes a long and interesting “explanatory preamble” by Dr Vyvyan Howarth, sufficient to establish the interests of Sacher-Masoch’s writing for students of abnormality in sexual conduct. The conclusion of the Tribunal is that the reasons given in the decision referred to, restricting distribution to readers over the age of 18 years, apply equally to the book at present in question; and it is accordingly decided to be not indecent, subject to the age restriction.

F. McCARTHY, Deputy Chairman.

21 August 1969.

Decision of the Indecent Publications Tribunal

No. 151

IN the matter of the Indecent Publications Act 1963, and in the matter of a book Sex is for Giving, by John Webster, Elysium Press, Los Angeles, submitted by leave of the Minister of Justice.

DECISION OF TRIBUNAL

ON the face of it, this book is a defence of sexual promiscuity; but the face of it is deceptive. It is better described as a defence of the careful, discriminating, and occasional exchange of marriage partners, neither being ignorant or deceived. The book consists of an account of the origin, course, and result of some such experiences and of an argument in favour of them. The narrative is pursued in very restrained style; the argument with cool reason. The fact that the theory urged will be repugnant to many readers is no reason why it should not be opened to mature readers, whatever their conclusion; and the Tribunal accordingly decides that this book is not indecent within the meaning of the Act; but placing due emphasis on the word “mature”, that its circulation should be restricted to readers over the age of 18 years.

F. McCARTHY, Deputy Chairman.

21 August 1969.

Decision of the Indecent Publications Tribunal

No. 152

IN the matter of the Indecent Publications Act 1963, and in the matter of a book The Swinging Set by William and Jerrye Breedlove, Sherbourne Press, Los Angeles, submitted by leave of the Minister of Justice.

DECISION OF TRIBUNAL

THIS book, like Sex is for Giving, is devoted to what is commonly called promiscuity; but, unlike that, it develops no theory of carefully and discriminately arranged marital exchanges, but is concerned with “that group of young men and women, single or married, who seek and accept sexual