998

accounts of sexual experience in an earlier period. Despite the "high purposes" invoked by the narrator in offering her experiences, nothing in the book raises it above the level of a prurient recital of increasingly perverted and extreme incidents. It has no social realism to authenticate the claim made about its origins and appears to be simply a cheap attempt to exploit interest in underground erotic literature.

The Tribunal classifies it as indecent.

Cruel Venus

Cruel Venus, by Victor Rogano, B.A., was published as a softcover book by Canova Press in Great Britain in 1970, and its likely retail price in New Zealand would be $2.25.

It claims to be a study of women exercising power and authority through the ages, but this framework is used as a vehicle for several unsourced, pseudo-contemporary accounts of female cruelty with a strong bias towards sadism. It cannot be said to be a work written with serious intent, and taking into account the considerations laid down in section 11 of the Act, in particular 11 (f), the Tribunal classifies it as indecent.

Sex Watchers

Sex Watchers, by Sterling Harkins, was published by Barclay House in the United States in 1969 and by Ben's Books in Great Britain in 1970; it would retail in New Zealand for approximately $2.00.

It is in no way a serious study of voyeurism, but a strung-together series of accounts of voyeurs' experiences which are to all appearances fictional. It is written in a rather prurient way without any redeeming feature. There is no "honest purpose" nor any "honest thread of thought", to quote section 11 (f) of the Act, in this book.

The Tribunal classifies it as indecent.

R. S. V. SIMPSON, Chairman.

17 May 1971.

No. 291

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 Two and Two, by Henrik Tjele, published by Grove Press Inc., New York.

There was no appearance of the applicant. Mr P. J. Downey appeared as counsel for the publishers.

DECISION OF THE TRIBUNAL

In Two and Two, a very thin story serves as the vehicle for presenting a variety of sexual experiences engaged in by the characters with tireless enthusiasm. There is some glib philosophising about "liberation" and "order" in human affairs in the final pages, but otherwise the book is largely devoid of any interest in human experience beyond the savouring of sexual activity. It is described on its cover as "an erotic novel", but this is to understate the degree and nature of its preoccupation with sexual gratification and the titillating tone of its narration. It is a novel that is clearly indecent.

The Tribunal classifies it as indecent.

R. S. V. SIMPSON, Chairman.

17 May 1971.

No. 292

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 a decision in respect of the magazines Man and Woman Parts 1-8, by Marshall Cavendish Ltd., published by Love and Malcomson Ltd., Surrey, England.

There was no appearance of the applicant. Mr R. A. Heron appeared as counsel for the publishers' representative in New Zealand.

DECISION OF THE TRIBUNAL

The magazines under consideration form the first eight parts of a publication subtitled The Marshall Cavendish Encyclopaedia of Adult Relationships. The publication is planned for ninety-eight weekly parts. It is intended to retail at 65 cents per copy. The publisher specialises in the production of good quality encyclopaedias in weekly parts for countries in all parts of the English-speaking world. Because the publication is in serial form it is not possible to consider

the publication as a whole, nor the eight issues before us as though they constituted the whole. Accordingly the Tribunal has considered each issue separately.

At the hearing, Mr R. A. Heron on behalf of Gordon and Gotch (N.Z.) Ltd., sole agents for the publishers, made submissions and called Professor A. J. W. Taylor, Professor of Clinical Psychology at Victoria University of Wellington, to give evidence. Professor Taylor confirmed that the editorial advisory board, editorial staff, and authors were well qualified to produce such a publication and indeed some of the staff were recognised as authorities in the particular fields in which they wrote. Professor Taylor gave a clear and succinct description of the publication which the Tribunal readily accepts. It is as follows:

"I found parts 1 to 8 of the above publication most agreeable attempts to deal with problems of human sexuality, particularly when compared with the torrent of literature on the subject that has fallen far short of acceptable standards. The magazines contain frank and factual information about different aspects of human sexual behaviour. The material is presented in a range of styles from the descriptive to the clinical, and much of it is based upon research data instead of the kind of fantasy with which so many magazines of this type are filled. The level of discourse is good, and were it not for the simple illustrations that accompany many articles, it would deter the sensation seekers. Each of the parts has a case study that in my opinion is a realistic portrayal of the kind of sexual difficulties that people present to clinics and social work agencies."

Professor Taylor in elaborating his opinion of the publication stated:

"Hence I would support the case for the publication of the magazines with some restrictive clause that would help to keep them from early adolescents..."

Here again the Tribunal is in sympathy with these views of Professor Taylor.

In considering each issue the Tribunal did not find anything inconsistent with the apparent general purpose of the series, that is, sex education presented in a natural and healthy way.

Nevertheless, a display of some of the individual illustrations (or "the simple illustrations" as described by Professor Taylor) might prove disturbing and even harmful to young persons who could lack a full appreciation of the purpose and of the context from which they have been taken. To safeguard the public interest, therefore, we feel obliged to impose a certain measure of restriction. But in imposing a restriction we commend the publication and, subject to that restriction, would hope that the publication is widely read and studied.

The Tribunal classifies each of the eight issues as indecent in the hands of persons under the age of 16 years except when they are being advised by parents or professional advisers.

R. S. V. SIMPSON, Chairman.

17 May 1971.

The Standards Act 1965—British Standards, Revisions, and Amendments Available for Comment

PURSUANT to subsection (3) of section 23 of the Standards Act 1965, notice is hereby given that the British standards, revisions, and amendments listed in the Schedule hereto are being considered for adoption as New Zealand standard specifications or for endorsement as being suitable for use in New Zealand. All persons who may be affected by them and who desire to comment thereon may, on application, obtain copies on loan from the Standards Association of New Zealand, Private Bag, Wellington.

Requests should specify that copies are required for comment purposes.

The closing date for the receipt of comment is 18 June 1971.

SCHEDULE

LIST OF BRITISH STANDARDS

NEW Issues: Title

BS 493: — Air bricks and gratings for wall ventilation—

493: Part 2: 1970 Metric units.

BS 1000 [616]: 1970 Universal Decimal Classification. English full edition. UDC 616 Pathology. (A4 size)

BS 1000 [655]: 1970 Universal Decimal Classification. English full edition. UDC 655 Graphic industries. Printing. Publishing. Book trade. (A4 size)