23 SEPTEMBER THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE 1983

behaviour. These illustrations dominate the volumes. They are
imported by wholesalers and directly by booksellers. The
taken from various times and various pictorial genres, with
initial indent of the paperback edition was 3,000 copies, retail-
their sources being acknowledged in the “List of Illustrations”
ing here at something over 75c.
where they are elaborately numbered as plates and figures.
But there is no attempt whatever to use the pictures to
Mr Downey also submitted publicity material indicating that
illustrate points in the text. They are intended to make their
the name Penelope Ashe is a pseudonym, that the book is in
own appeal.
fact a symposium organised by a New York journalist called
Mike McGrady who called on 25 friends each to submit a
In the Tribunal’s view this appeal is to prurient interest in
chapter—there are 14 chapters in the book as published.
the behaviour shown and none of the four volumes displays
an honest purpose or an honest thread of thought and the
DECISION OF THE TRIBUNAL
text is merely a camouflage designed to render acceptable the
gross indecency of the illustrations (section 11 (f)).
THE theme is the decision of a wife whose husband has been
unfaithful to her, to “even the score”. Remorselessly she
The Tribunal classifies these books as indecent.
devastates the male population of her fashionable suburb in a
R. S. V. SIMPSON, Chairman.
sex drive of heroic proportions. Mr McGrady’s aim is stated in
13 September 1971.
the publisher’s material as “to initiate the hairiest hoax of the
decade and commission the worse best seller imaginable,
crammed with planned unintentional humour, loaded with
No. 348
lewedly descriptive lust, incorporating every nauseating nuance
Decision of the Indecent Publications Tribunal
—
of popular fiction”.

IN the matter of the Indecent Publications Act 1963, and in
Mr McGrady has succeeded in his avowed aim of producing a
the matter of an application by the Comptroller of Customs
bad best seller, and it does exhibit in some degree the features
for a decision in respect of the book Sex and the Over-Forties
he lists as desiderata. His success makes it impossible in terms
by Robert Chartham, published by New English Library,
of the statute to let the book go free: there is very little literary
London.
merit to outweigh the several “lewedly descriptive” passages
that some of his contributors have supplied. The quantum of
There was no appearance of the applicant nor of the pub-
these is not great, but though satirical they are likely in our
lisher’s representative in New Zealand. Accordingly no
view to be misconceived as exhibiting an approving attitude
submissions were made.
to some forms of perversion. We feel bound accordingly to
restrict the circulation of the book.

DECISION OF THE TRIBUNAL
The Tribunal classifies this book as indecent in the hands of
THIS book gives an informative account of the effect of age
persons under 18 years of age.
on the physical organs of the body. It also offers advice on
R. S. V. SIMPSON, Chairman.
the conduct of sexual relationships in such circumstances and
13 September 1971.
case histories are cited in support.

In the opinion of the Tribunal the book is not indecent and
Indecent Publications Tribunal
—
although the author does not claim any particular qualifica-
tion in this field of study the book, couched in layman’s
I, Jack Alexander McLeod Kean, Comptroller of Customs,
language, could possibly be of help to some adults. Because
give notice that I have applied to the Indecent Publications
of its explicit treatment of sexual practices it should be
Tribunal for a decision as to whether the book The Mile High
restricted.
Set, author Johnny Douglas, published by New English
Library, London, is indecent or not or for a decision as to its
The Tribunal classifies this book as indecent in the hands of
classification.
persons under the age of 18 years.
R. S. V. SIMPSON, Chairman.
13 September 1971.

Indecent Publications Tribunal
—

No. 349
I, Jack Alexander McLeod Kean, Comptroller of Customs,
Decision of the Indecent Publications Tribunal
—
give notice that I have applied to the Indecent Publications
Tribunal for a decision as to whether the book Black Velvet,
IN the matter of the Indecent Publications Act 1963, and in
author Joseph Chadwick, published by New English Library
the matter of an application by the Comptroller of Customs
from Barnards’ Inn, Holborn, London, is indecent or not or
for a decision in respect of the book Naked Came the Stranger
for a decision as to its classification.
by Penelope Ash, published by Sphere Books Ltd., London.

There was no appearance for the Comptroller of Customs.
Indecent Publications Tribunal
—
Mr P. J. Downey appeared for Seven Seas Publishing Pty.
Ltd., one of the distributors, and advised that the book had
I, Jack Alexander McLeod Kean, Comptroller of Customs,
been on the best-seller lists in the United States for 4 months,
give notice that I have applied to the Indecent Publications
and had been on sale in New Zealand for some time. Barrie
Tribunal for a decision as to whether the book The World of
and Jenkins Ltd. had published a hardback edition in 1970:
Sex, author Henry Miller, published by Grove Press Inc., New
it had sold freely and widely. This year Sphere Books had
York, is indecent or not or for a decision as to its classifica-
put out the paperback submitted to us. It had been widely
tion.

Notice Under the Regulations Act 1936
—

PURSUANT to the Regulations Act 1936, notice is hereby given of the making of regulations as under:

Copies can be purchased from the Government Publications Bookshops—State Advances Building, Rutland Street (P.O. Box 5344), Auckland 1; Investment House, Barton Street (P.O. Box 857), Hamilton; Mulgrave Street (Private Bag), Wellington 1; 130 Oxford Terrace (P.O. Box 1721), Christchurch 1; T. and G. Insurance Building, Princes Street (P.O. Box 1104), Dunedin. Prices for quantities supplied on application. Copies may be ordered by quoting serial number.
A. R. SHEARER, Government Printer.
D