18 NOVEMBER

No. 372

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 book The Koka Shastra by Alex Comfort, published by Tandem, London.

There was no appearance of the applicant nor of the publisher's representative in New Zealand. Accordingly no submissions were made.

DECISION OF THE TRIBUNAL

The Koka Shastra, being the Ratirahashya of Kokkoka and other Mediaeval Indian writings on love, translated and with an introduction by Alex Comfort is a Tandem paperback edition of a work first published by George Allen and Unwin Ltd. in 1964.

Approximately half of this book consists of the first English translation of Kokkoka's 12th century Ratirahasya (secrets of Rati, wife of the love god—the Koka Shastra, or Koka's book) and various other texts. The rest of the work comprises a 30-page preface by W. G. Archer dealing with the discovery of the Ratirahasya by Sir Richard Burton's associate, F. F. Arbuthnot, and its place in Hindu erotic literature, also the translator's own 52-page introduction. Small diagrammatic illustrations of various coital positions are included; these are in no way offensive.

The texts are highly erotic but could not possibly be described as pornographic. The work could offend only persons whose minds were disturbed or persons who consider sexual congress offensive or shameful in any circumstances. The introductions are scholarly and cannot be faulted on the score of taste: the works themselves are largely poetical dissertations on romantic love in the circumstances prescribed and accepted by the society of the period. The pieces chosen reveal both wisdom and essential innocence in that society.

The Tribunal classifies this book as not indecent.

R. S. V. SIMPSON, Chairman.

9 November 1971.

No. 373

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 magazine Playgirl, New Series, No. 6, published by Man Junior Magazine Pty. Ltd., Sydney.

There was no appearance of the applicant. Mr R. A. Heron, solicitor, appeared on behalf of the publishers and made submissions.

DECISION OF THE TRIBUNAL

THIS is a fairly well established girlie magazine published in Australia. It is competently done but without any great pretension to artistic merit. While positive virtue of the magazine is slight we do not see anything about the publication which could bring it fairly within the ambit of the Act, and certainly its distribution should not constitute an offence.

Guidelines were set for this kind of publication in our classifications 93–103—the "Waverley decisions"—gazetted on 25 July 1968. These have not been altered.

The Tribunal classifies this issue of this magazine as not indecent.

R. S. V. SIMPSON, Chairman.

9 November 1971.

Bylaw Fixing the Maximum Speed of Vehicles on No. 94 State Highway (Gore-Milford Sound) at Milford Sound

BYLAW

PURSUANT to section 13 of the National Roads Act 1953 and section 72 of the Transport Act 1962, the National Roads Board makes the following bylaw:

1. This bylaw may be cited as the National Roads Board Bylaw 1971, No. 2.

2. This bylaw shall come into force on the day after the date of its publication in the Gazette.

3. In this bylaw “vehicle” has the meaning assigned to it in the Transport Act 1962.

4. No person shall drive or take or permit to be driven or taken any vehicle upon or over No. 94 State Highway (Gore-Milford Sound) at Milford Sound from the north abutment of Wharf Creek Bridge extending generally in a southerly direction for approximately 50 chains at a speed exceeding 20 miles per hour.

5. Every person who commits an offence against this bylaw is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $100.

This bylaw was made by resolution duly passed at a meeting of the National Roads Board held in Wellington on the 18th day of August 1971.

D. J. CHAPMAN, Secretary.

(62/33/16)

Indecent Publications Tribunal

I, Eric Alderson Missen, of Wellington, Secretary for Justice, give notice that I have applied to the Indecent Publications Tribunal for a decision as to whether or not the book Sexual Harmony by Louisa Rowett, published by the Fitzwilliam Publishing Co., is indecent or not, or for a decision as to its classification.

E. A. MISSEN, Secretary for Justice.

(J. 18/45/30 (3))

Indecent Publications Tribunal

I, Eric Alderson Missen, of Wellington, Secretary for Justice, give notice that I have applied to the Indecent Publications Tribunal for a decision as to whether the magazine, International Crime Detective (July 1971), published by arrangement with Dell Publishing Co. Inc., New York, is indecent or not, or for a decision as to its classification.

E. A. MISSEN, Secretary for Justice.

(J. 18/45/30 (3))

Indecent Publications Tribunal

I, Jack Alexander McLeod Kean, Comptroller of Customs, give notice that I have applied to the Indecent Publications Tribunal for a decision as to whether the book described below is indecent or not, or for a decision as to its classification.

Title: Sabrina.

Author: Joseph Chadwick.

Publisher: New English Library, London E.C. 1.

The Standards Act 1965—Draft New Zealand Standard Specifications Available for Comment

PURSUANT to subsection (3) of section 23 of the Standards Act 1965, notice is hereby given that the draft New Zealand standard specifications listed in the Schedule hereto are being circulated.

All persons who may be affected by these specifications and who desire to comment thereon may, upon application, obtain one copy on loan from the Standards Association of New Zealand, New Zealand Display Centre Building, Sturdee Street (or Private Bag), Wellington. Additional copies are obtainable at 50c a copy from the same address.

The closing dates for the receipt of comment are shown in the third column of the said Schedule.

SCHEDULE

Ref. No. and Description of Draft Closing Date
DZ 623/234 Draft amendment to NZS 623: 1964, 31 Jan 1972
Conditions of contract for building and civil engineering construction ---- -------- ------ ----- ----- ----- ----------
DZ 1900.5/233 Draft amendment to NZS 1900:
--- Model building bylaw---
Chapter 5: 1963 Fire resisting construction and means of egress ----- ---- -------- ----- ----- ----- ----- ---------- ------- 31 Dec 1971

NOTE—This amendment, when issued, will make provision for the fire protection of hospitals. The draft is included with DZ 3831/232.

DZ 3831/232 Fire protection of hospitals ---- ------------ --------- 31 Dec 1971

Dated at Wellington this 12th day of November 1971.

G. H. EDWARDS, Director,
Standards Association of New Zealand.

(S.A. 114/2/8)