2 AUGUST THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE 1467

No. 699–702

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 the decisions in respect of the magazines Oz, No. 29, 38, 41, and 43, published by Oz Publications Ink, London.

Mr Fligg appeared on behalf of the applicant and made submissions. Mr Taylor, the importer of the magazines, appeared and made submissions.

DECISION OF THE TRIBUNAL

It was stated by the Customs Department that these four issues of Oz had been referred to the Tribunal in order to establish a guideline for its treatment in New Zealand. A lengthy submission was made by Mr A. Taylor, who had brought the four copies in question into the country when returning from an overseas visit.

In Mr Taylor’s view, Oz appeals “primarily to young people who are politically motivated, intelligent, with a sense of humour, an eye for good graphics, generally interested in a high literary standard and a thirst for the investigative journalism and harsh social comment Oz so often provides.”

Oz may be taken as a fair representative of the alternative press of the counter-culture. The four issues before the Tribunal deal in a highly critical way with a number of important social issues, including ecology, women’s liberation, violence, and drugs. While there is a certain sexual content—particularly in some of the cartoons—we do not find it to be blatantly intrusive on the main, satirical purpose of the magazine. Treating each issue as a whole, it is clear that Oz is a magazine of some social and political significance in the contemporary world, particularly to that part of the younger generation who are highly critical of accepted mores. The explicitness of some of the sexual contents leads us, however, to consider an age restriction justified to prevent its circulation to immature children.

The Tribunal classifies Oz No. 29, 38, 41, and 43 to be indecent in the hands of persons under the age of 16 years.

R. S. V. SIMPSON, Chairman.

17 July 1973.

No. 703–704

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 decisions in respect of the magazines Continental Film Review, Vol. 20, No. 1 and 2, published by Europ Publishing Co., 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 is a long-established British magazine which appears to deal with current European film production. It includes news of film-making activities and reviews of new films, and it is liberally illustrated with stills from the films dealt with. The pictures are generally in context but have a heavy emphasis on nudity, and occasionally violence. Because of this we consider some restriction on their circulation is justified.

The Tribunal Classifies Continental Film Review, Vol. 20, No. 1 and 2 as indecent in the hands of persons under the age of 18 years.

R. S. V. SIMPSON, Chairman.

17 July 1973.

No. 705

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 Wellington for a decision and report in terms of the said section in respect of the book The Modern Eveline.

Mr Riske, a party to the Court proceedings, appeared and made submissions.

DECISION AND REPORT

THIS book is introduced by an anonymous editor as his adaptation, to the Edwardian period, of a book written some 200 years earlier of which he had many extracts and notes, his copy of the original having been sold by his publisher before it could be given a new edition. Whatever the circumstances of the composition of the text before the Tribunal, its claims as a period work are slight. There is no substantial or convincing social context created, nor any literary merit to offset the preoccupation with the sexual exploits of the indefatigable hereoin which are told in tones of profuse and approving candour.

The dominant effect of the book is to portray sexual behaviour in a way and with an emphasis that offend against the provisions of the Act.

The Tribunal classifies this book as indecent.

R. S. V. SIMPSON, Chairman.

17 July 1973.

The Standards Act 1965—Standard Specifications Revoked

PURSUANT to section 23 of the Standards Act 1965, the Standards Council, on 20 July 1973, revoked the under-mentioned standard specifications:

Number and Title of Standard Specification

NZS 488: —— (BS 350: ——) Conversion factors and tables—

Part 1: 1961 (BS 350: Part 1: 1959) Basis of tables. Conversion factors.

Part 2: 1962 (BS 350: Part 2: 1962) Detailed conversion tables.

Supplement No. 1: 1970 (BS 350: Supplement No. 1: 1967) Additional tables for S.I. conversion.

Dated at Wellington this 24th day of July 1973.

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

(S.A. 1–114/2/7: 617–19)

The Standards Act 1965—Standard Specifications Proposed for Revocation

NOTICE is hereby given that the New Zealand standard specifications listed in the Schedule hereto have been reviewed by committees of the Standards Council and have been recommended for revocation, pursuant to the provisions of the Standards Act 1965.

Any person who may be affected by the proposal to revoke these standard specifications, and who wishes to object to their revocation, is invited to submit comments to the Standards Association of New Zealand, Private Bag, Wellington, not later than 24 August 1973.

SCHEDULE

Number and Title of Standard Specification

*NZS 1195: 1953 (BS 1803: 1952), Surgical rubber gloves.

†NZS 1923: 1964 (BS 1892: 1957), Gymnasium equipment.

‡NZS 2173: 1967 (BS 3479: 1962), Lighting sets for Christmas trees and decorative purposes for indoor use.

*BS 4005: 1966 of similar title has been endorsed as suitable for use in New Zealand.

†Proposed for revocation on the grounds of non-usage.

‡It has been proposed that BS 4647: 1970, of similar title, be declared with New Zealand amendment as a standard specification in place of NZS 2173.

Dated at Wellington this 24th day of July 1973.

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

(S.A. 2–114/2/6)

The Standards Act 1965—Amendment of Miscellaneous Publication

PURSUANT to the provisions of the Standards Act 1965, the Standards Council, on 18 July 1973, amended the under-mentioned miscellaneous publication by the incorporation of the amendment shown hereunder:

Number, Title, and Price of Miscellaneous Publication (Mailed) Amendment Number
MP 190112: 1973 Metric handbook to NZS 1900: Chapter 11.2: 1965 Farm Buildings. $1.20 1