668

No. 257

Decision of the Indecent Publications Tribunal

IN the matter of the Indecent Publications Act 1963, and in the matter of an application by the Comptroller of Customs for decision in respect of the book Fetishisms by George Simon and Hans Freudel, PH.D. Published by Softcover Library, New York. Paperback U.K. 5s.

There was no appearance on behalf of the applicant nor of the publisher's representative in New Zealand.

DECISION OF THE TRIBUNAL

THIS book is similar in several respects to others considered by the Tribunal. There is a large number of case histories of sexual abnormalities, a provocative cover and excited preliminary insistence on the "dramatic" and "authentic" quality of the narrative.

But this book differs from most of the others in that there is substantial discussion of the behaviour recorded and the tone of this is not suggestive or flippant. Taking the book as a whole, however, we consider that restriction of its circulation is justified, the objectionable features of its presentation being calculated to attract impressionable and immature readers to perversion.

The Tribunal classifies it as indecent in the hands of persons under 18 years of age.

R. S. V. SIMPSON, Chairman.

24 March 1971.

No. 258

Decision of the Indecent Publications Tribunal

IN the matter of the Indecent Publications Act 1963, and in the matter of an application by John McGee Arthur, of Wellington, manager, for decision in respect of the book Commander Amanda Nightingale by George Revelli. Published by New English Library, London. Hardback U.K. 25s.

Mr Kerr appeared on behalf of J. M. Arthur, the publisher's agent, and made submissions.

DECISION OF THE TRIBUNAL

THIS book tells the story of a heroine of World War II described on the dustcover as "the beautiful—but inexperienced English spy who left her sexpertise marked on the history of Occupied France". Flown into Occupied France she is quickly captured and imprisoned in an abandoned schoolhouse by two German Army officers and their female companion. At first she is terrified but soon she is an inseparable friend of the three Germans and a willing partner in sexual games that would have made her faint with horror a few weeks earlier. This novel is grossly sadistic and is a story of sexual brutality and torture which the heroine comes to crave making a kind of double perversion.

This emphasis on sadistic practices and perversion makes the book unsuitable for general reading by young people. The Tribunal therefore classifies the book indecent in the hands of persons under 18 years of age.

R. S. V. SIMPSON, Chairman.

24 March 1971.

No. 259

Decision of the Indecent Publications Tribunal

IN the matter of the Indecent Publications Act 1963, and in the matter of an application by the Comptroller of Customs in respect of the book More Walter being a further examination of My Secret Life by Drs E. and P. Kronhausen. Published by Morntide Ltd., London. 1 Volume paperback 15s.

There was no appearance on behalf of the Comptroller of Customs, nor of the publisher's representative in New Zealand. Accordingly no submissions were made to the Tribunal.

DECISION OF THE TRIBUNAL

VOLUMES I and II of this book were considered by the Tribunal on 9 September 1968 (Classification No. 107) and Volume III which we are now considering is very much in the pattern of Volumes I and II. The reasons given by the Tribunal for its decision at that hearing are valid in respect of Volume III.

The Tribunal in that decision stated that the subject matter of the book was perhaps sordid rather than disturbing but might well lead young persons into thinking the author's particular obsessions more usual and more tolerable than they are.

This also can be said of Volume III and the Tribunal therefore classifies the book indecent in the hands of persons under 18 years of age.

R. S. V. SIMPSON, Chairman.

24 March 1971.

No. 260

Decision of the Indecent Publications Tribunal

IN the matter of the Indecent Publications Act 1963, and in the matter of an application by the Comptroller of Customs in respect of the book 491 by Lars Gorling. Published by Sphere Books Ltd., London. Paperback price $1.25.

There was no appearance on behalf of the Comptroller of Customs, nor of the publisher's representative in New Zealand. Accordingly no submissions were made to the Tribunal.

DECISION OF THE TRIBUNAL

THIS book was originally published in Sweden in 1962 and in English translation in the United States in 1966. It was published in England in paperback by Sphere Books in 1970. It deals with a group of delinquent boys who instead of being sent to prison or borstal are placed in a welfare hostel. Here, in return for occasional interviews with psychologists and other social workers, they are largely left to their own devices with minimal supervision. Naturally enough, the group—all unattractive, even repulsive characters—get up to all kinds of pointless activity.

It is a realistic novel, and a quite serious social commentary on delinquency and society's treatment of the delinquent. Apart from certain episodes, the book taken as a whole, does not appear to be injurious to the public good. It is reasonable to place an age restriction on its circulation, particularly because of the age group it deals with.

The Tribunal classifies it as indecent in the hands of persons under the age of 18 years.

R. S. V. SIMPSON, Chairman.

24 March 1971.

No. 261

Decision of the Indecent Publications Tribunal

IN the matter of the Indecent Publications Act 1963, and in the matter of an application by the Comptroller of Customs in respect of the book The Soft Machine by William Burroughs. Published by Corgi Books, Transworld Publications Ltd. Paperback price $1.

There was no appearance on behalf of the Comptroller of Customs, nor of the publisher's representative in New Zealand. Accordingly no submissions were made to the Tribunal.

DECISION OF THE TRIBUNAL

WILLIAM Burroughs' The Soft Machine is the third of his novels to be submitted to the Tribunal. In 1964 Dead Fingers Talk was held to be not indecent, but in November 1967 Naked Lunch was held to be indecent. Burroughs is a controversial example of the modern experimental novelist; in all his writings the major themes recur—drug addiction and homosexuality, with a strong admixture of science-fiction fantasy.

The situations and language alike are not for the squeamish, but the author's seriousness of purpose must be taken into account. The very episodic treatment and the turgid, involved and rather impenetrable style make it unlikely that many readers would persevere with it for long, unless they are students of literature, psychology, or sociology.

The Tribunal classifies it as indecent in the hands of persons under the age of 18 years.

R. S. V. SIMPSON, Chairman.

24 March 1971.

No. 262-264

Decision of the Indecent Publications Tribunal

IN the matter of the Indecent Publications Act 1963, and in the matter of an application by the Comptroller of Customs in respect of the books There was a Fair Maid and There was a Young Lady by Hugh de Witt, There was a Young Wench by Seymour Legge, all published by Universal-Tandem Publishing Co., London. Paperback price 5s.

There was no appearance on behalf of the Comptroller of Customs, nor of the publisher's representative in New Zealand. Accordingly no submissions were made to the Tribunal.