1770
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE
No. 67

DECISION OF THE TRIBUNAL

THIS book consists of a series of extracts from books published by the Olympia Press and edited by Maurice Girodias, its founder. The authors include such well-known names as Henry Miller, J. P. Donleavy, Laurence Durrell, Samuel Beckett, Jean Genet, Frank Harris, and William Burroughs. Some of the books from which excerpts are included have been restricted by the Tribunal, and one or two declared indecent. The extracts generally do not appear to have been chosen merely to highlight the extremely sensational, but to represent the type of writing involved in each case. It seems right to give it a classification in accordance with many of the books included.

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

R. S. V. SIMPSON, Chairman.

10 August 1972.

No. 524
Decision of the Indecent Publications Tribunal

IN the matter of the Indecent Publications Act 1963, and in the matter of an application by Seven Seas Publishing Pty. Ltd. for a decision in respect of the book The New Olympia Reader, edited by Maurice Girodias, published by Sherbourne Press Incorporated, New York.

Mr Downey, solicitor, appeared on behalf of the applicant and made submissions.

DECISION OF THE TRIBUNAL

THIS volume contains extracts from more than 40 Olympia Press books. Some of the extracts are of a few pages only and all seem to have been chosen to illustrate the nature and extent of the innovations in publications associated with the Olympia Press. Several of the books represented here have been before the Tribunal and classified individually in the various categories provided by the Act. Taken as a whole this anthology of episodes has such an emphasis on extreme and perverted sexual behaviour as to make it indecent within the provisions of the Act and cannot be considered to have such literary or artistic merit or other importance as would offset that view of it.

The Tribunal classifies this book as indecent.

R. S. V. SIMPSON, Chairman.

10 August 1972.

No. 525
Decision of the Indecent Publications Tribunal

IN the matter of the Indecent Publications Act 1963, and in the matter of an application by Marketing Services (N.Z.) Ltd. for a decision in respect of the book Love Play by J. Mulle, published by Leon Publishing Co., Australia.

Mr Downey, solicitor, appeared on behalf of the applicant and made submissions.

DECISION OF THE TRIBUNAL

THIS illustrated guide to sexual intercourse is an Australian publication. A number of similar works on this theme published in other countries have been considered by the Tribunal and in decisions No. 432 to 435 they were classified into three categories. This publication is difficult to classify and does not readily fall into any of these three categories. Some of the postures illustrated are so bizarre and the acrobatics so varied as to make the intent of the publication suspect. On the other hand the illustrations are for the most part natural and restrained in presentation and are accompanied by straightforward text. There is no suggestion of perverted or illegal forms of sexual activity. The Tribunal does not judge the book as likely to corrupt mature readers, but clearly some restriction on its availability to younger persons, and on its public display, is desirable.

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

R. S. V. SIMPSON, Chairman.

10 August 1972.

No. 526
Decision of the Indecent Publications Tribunal

IN the matter of the Indecent Publications Act 1963, and in the matter of a reference to the Tribunal under section 12 (1) of the said Act by the Magistrate’s Court at Auckland for a decision and report in terms of the said section in respect of the magazine Exclusive, No. 12, published by New English Library, London.

There was no appearance of the publisher’s representative in New Zealand nor of any persons who had satisfied the Tribunal that they were likely to be affected. Accordingly no submissions were made.

DECISION AND REPORT OF THE TRIBUNAL

THIS magazine (dated February 1969 and therefore more than 3 years old when referred to us) is a mixture of pin-ups, factual stories, and fiction. The copy received by the Tribunal had several pages missing. The pin-ups are often contrived, neither of particular merit nor likely to be corrupting. The writing is of varying standard, but not often offending against normal canons of decency for adult readers.

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

R. S. V. SIMPSON, Chairman.

10 August 1972.

No. 527
Decision of the Indecent Publications Tribunal

IN the matter of the Indecent Publications Act 1963, and in the matter of an application by Seven Seas Publishing Pty. Ltd. for a decision in respect of the book The Picture Book of Sexual Love by Robert Harkell, published by Pent-R Books Incorporated, New York.

Mr Downey, solicitor, appeared on behalf of the applicant and made submissions.

DECISION OF THE TRIBUNAL

THIS book could be sexually stimulating but there is nothing in it likely to deprave. It is an erotic account of techniques of intercourse accompanied by photographs of an artistic rather than an informative kind. If adults wish to read this book there would seem to be no reason against it.

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

R. S. V. SIMPSON, Chairman.

10 August 1972.

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: Blue Movie.
   Author: Terry Southern.
   Publisher: The World Publishing Co., New York.

2. Title: Making Love.
   Author: Anonymous.
   Publisher: Corgi Books Ltd., London.

3. Title: Mayfair Magazine, Vol. 7, No. 5 and 6.
   Author: Anonymous.
   Publisher: Fisk Publishing Co. Ltd., London.

4. Title: Sappho of Lesbos.
   Author: Jefferson Cooper.
   Publisher: Gold Star Publications (Australia) Pty. Ltd., Australia.

5. Title: The Modern Evelyne.
   Author: Anonymous.
   Publisher: Grove Press Incorporated, New York.