It is poorly written and its moral—if there is one—obscured. While we do not consider this book would affect a mature reader, we consider it ought not to be in the hands of younger readers.

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

R. S. V. SIMPSON, Chairman.

17 December 1971.

No. 392

Decision of the Indecent Publications Tribunal

IN the matter of the Indecent Publications Act 1963, and in the matter of an application by the Secretary for Justice for a decision in respect of the book The Sensuous Man by M., published by Lyle Stuart Inc., New York.

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

THIS book whose subtitle is "The first how-to book for the man who wants to be a great lover" is an obvious successor to The Sensuous Woman by J, published by the same firm in 1970. That book came before the Tribunal last year and was classified as indecent in the hands of persons under the age of 18 years. In the course of its decision the Tribunal said (decision No. 221, 3.11.70):

“Some of it is witty enough to suggest that an original satiric intention has been taken over commercially. Where it takes itself seriously, the book's view of sexual behaviour may seem to many to be quite offensive ... there is little to indicate that the more complex intimacy of love is involved in sensual experience.”

The same broadly holds true of the later book, and one strongly suspects one person has written both books. It may also be said, however, to be a substantially responsible if rather lighthearted approach to the improvement of sexual experience for both men and women. There is a fair amount of explicit detail and uninhibited language. While it will doubtless offend some people we do not doubt the author's honesty of purpose and do not believe it will corrupt adult readers.

Of the previous book the Tribunal said that some of it was “unsuitable reading for younger people who cannot weigh the attitudes conveyed”; this applies equally to the present book.

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

R. S. V. SIMPSON, Chairman.

17 December 1971.

No. 393

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 Sensuous Couple by Dr C., published by New English Library, 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

THIS book cannot avoid comparison with two sets of books previously considered by the Tribunal; firstly, The Sensuous Woman and The Sensuous Man, and, secondly, the books by Robert Chartham. The Sensuous Couple is clearly intended to exploit the vogue of the first, while capitalising on Dr Chart-ham's repute as an expert. That Dr C. is Dr Chartham is strongly suggested both in the text and on the cover.

Such comparison raises considerable doubts as to the honesty of purpose of the book. Its content is slight and its tone teasingly provocative, whereas the two earlier “sensuous” books had a sophistication of tone that made immediate vicarious response to the material less likely, and the Chartham books, with one exception, had sufficient objectivity to make their purpose as popular guides acceptable.

The questionableness of the tone and emphasis is added to by the retelling of some of Dr C.'s personal experiences in a way that make it difficult to retain much regard for him as a professional counsellor. There is, in the Tribunal's view, nothing in the text or the presentation of the book to offset the impression it makes of being out for a quick return from a recital of sexual intimacies with a veneer of glamour and authority. Weighing the considerations outlined in the Act the Tribunal concludes that this book deals with sex in a manner injurious to the public good.

The Tribunal classifies the book as indecent.

R. S. V. SIMPSON, Chairman.

17 December 1971.

No. 394

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 Pleasure Seekers by Lynn Keefe, published by Sphere Books Ltd., 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

IN this book Lynn Keefe, author, prostitute, and brothelkeeper, records “without a blush” how she established the House of Ecstasy for pleasure seekers and she describes in vivid language her clientele (the famous and the rich) and their antics. The House was a smashing success but because of deteriorating relations with Congress (she numbered congressmen in her clientele) and the police, Lynn thought it wise to close down and reopen in Europe.

There is an emphasis on sexual activity and eroticism but not of such a kind as to require us to impose a restriction.

The Tribunal classifies the book as not indecent.

R. S. V. SIMPSON, Chairman.

17 December 1971.

No. 395

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 Attic by Katherine Dunn, published by Allison and Busby Ltd., 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

THIS American novel relates in the first person the experiences (perhaps based on actual occurrence) of arrest, imprisonment, and trial of a young woman in the American mid west. It is told largely in stream-of-consciousness fashion, with past and present mixed in one narrative, and much remaining obscure. Although a considerable part of the situations and language is earthy and frank, this is a genuine literary attempt to convey the realities of how the narrator felt at the time all these things were happening to her, her sensitivity contrasted sharply with the insensitivity of so many of those she came in contact with.

The Tribunal classifies the book as not indecent.

R. S. V. SIMPSON, Chairman.

17 December 1971.

Indecent Publications Tribunal

I, Jack Alexander McLeod Kean, Comptroller of Customs, give notice that I have applied to the Indecent Publications Tribunal for decisions as to whether the books described below are indecent or not, or for decisions as to their classification.

1. Title: All Night Visitors.
Author: Clarence Major.
Publisher: Olympia Press Inc., New York.

2. Title: Big Man in the Saddle.
Author: Mullin Garr.
Publisher: Ophelia Press Inc., New York.

3. Title: Nest of Vixens.
Author: Marcus Van Heller.
Publisher: Ophelia Press Inc., New York.